SM7_9474a New Year's Eve Barred Owl Wtmrk
A nice way to close the year.
After arrived home from our Christmas vacation travels yesterday, I decided to go hiking up the Gandy Dancer Trail this morning to reflect on the year and to pray. The reflection was nice. Been a busy and blessed year.
As I was hiking back home, I found myself in a particularly intense state of hungering for more of God and His righteousness in my life. As always, I had my camera at my side, and even was trying out the new camouflage covering for my lens that my son gave me. But especially at that moment, any hopes or desires for wildlife to photograph faded into insignificance for the burdens of my heart as I asked God to create in me a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within me. How I long to be so much more than I am for Him.
Just then, I glanced downward to the side of the trail as I was 30 feet above the lake beside me, only to find myself staring eye-to-eye with this Barred Owl. With camera in hand, I snapped this shot of a bird that wasn’t interested in moving.
A quote I have known for years came to mind, “Remain before God until unutterable longings are begotten within you for salvation, and the sweet evidence is obtained of pardoned sin.”
Like has happened so very many times in the past in similar situations, I walked away in peace. How many times has God drawn near through nature to let me know He hears these prayers? How many times has it been a Barred Owl.
This is why I take my camera with me on hikes while I am out praying, to capture these hugs from God.
SM7_9474a New Year's Eve Barred Owl Wtmrk
A nice way to close the year.
After arrived home from our Christmas vacation travels yesterday, I decided to go hiking up the Gandy Dancer Trail this morning to reflect on the year and to pray. The reflection was nice. Been a busy and blessed year.
As I was hiking back home, I found myself in a particularly intense state of hungering for more of God and His righteousness in my life. As always, I had my camera at my side, and even was trying out the new camouflage covering for my lens that my son gave me. But especially at that moment, any hopes or desires for wildlife to photograph faded into insignificance for the burdens of my heart as I asked God to create in me a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within me. How I long to be so much more than I am for Him.
Just then, I glanced downward to the side of the trail as I was 30 feet above the lake beside me, only to find myself staring eye-to-eye with this Barred Owl. With camera in hand, I snapped this shot of a bird that wasn’t interested in moving.
A quote I have known for years came to mind, “Remain before God until unutterable longings are begotten within you for salvation, and the sweet evidence is obtained of pardoned sin.”
Like has happened so very many times in the past in similar situations, I walked away in peace. How many times has God drawn near through nature to let me know He hears these prayers? How many times has it been a Barred Owl.
This is why I take my camera with me on hikes while I am out praying, to capture these hugs from God.