“Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble, attempts what is above its strength, pleads no excuse of impossibility—for it thinks all things lawful for itself, and all things possible.” ~ Thomas a Kempis
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.” ~ Roald Dahl
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.”~ Colossians 3:12, The Holy Bible
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These are a few of my submissions to the Weekly Photo Challenge with the theme “From Above”. The photos were to be captured with a perspective from above. I hope you enjoy the photos and the quotes. For more interpretations see the links below.
Peace, Alexandria
“Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.” ~Henry Van Dyke
“It’s easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher
“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them and try to follow them.” ~ Louisa May Alcott
“Man cannot aspire if he looks down. If he rise, he must look up.” ~ Samuel Smiles
“I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.” ~ Abraham Lincoln
“And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.” ~ G. K. Chesterton
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Here are other interpretations of the Weekly Photo Challenge with the theme of “Up”.
I wonder if flowers could talk or had human emotion or ability to reason, would they dwell in prejudice against the color of another flower? Would they judge and resent, even hate one another because of the color of their petals? And not just the color differences, but the different varieties?
The hydrangea colors are dependent on soil acidity. The daisies in the photo above have colors that are man-induced. They were “created”. Not the flowers, of course, but the colors. Why did someone do this? Doesn’t it add to their brilliance, bring a smile, and increase joy? They shout “fun”! Aren’t we awestruck and delighted by the very nature of their differences? Their color and composition is completely at the mercy of their maker. They cannot help what color they are. But do we complain? Do we harbor resentment because of the multitude of color?
Then why do we do this with humanity? It is the stuff of war and crime throughout history and all of us know it is wrong. Yet, hard as we try, we can all find traces of it lurking deep inside. It is our greatest stain deep within—racism. But how did it happen?
My instinctual guess is it was taught and modeled before us. In my own observations it seems children are not born racist. When they are young, watch how they play. I marvel at how they play happily with one another, all strangers, all different skin colors. It is a delight to watch, my five-year-old grandson mixing right in.
But as we grow up things change. And we have a big problem. So why don’t we just admit it? In problem solving, isn’t that what we’re taught? To first admit we have a problem?
So what next?
My own resolve is to beyond skin into the soul. The soul which is a human heart with a universal need of empathy and love. A soul which needs to be heard.
Think of last summer’s Olympics. For a wondrous moment every nation was at peace. We watched the very best athletes parade into the stadium and what a sight it was! Did it not take your breath away to see the vast array of different cultures, different colors both in costume and skin?
Did any of us have a racist or prejudiced bone in our body during those wondrous seventeen days? As a believer in God, I theorize the Creator’s original intent may have been what we witnessed at the Olympics. Why else would He be so risky as to create his image-bearers in different colors?
He obviously loves lots of color. Why not color us, too! He created everything and said, “It was good.” And that’s exactly what my different skin color friends have done for me—enriched my life and thinking. It is good—very, very good.
So if nature and children teach us to delight in the of the myriad of color, can we not strive to do the same?
After all, it’s all just a matter of a mere .012% melanin.
“I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” ~ Psalm 139:14
“For we are God’s masterpiece … ”~ Ephesians 2:10
“One race, many ethnicities.” ~ S. Michael, aka my son.
“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, He is RISEN!!” ~ Luke 24:5-6
Today Christians worldwide celebrate an event so powerful it split history in two. Since I am a Christian, I join in remembrance. But though I’m a believer in the risen Jesus Christ, my journey of faith was not an easy one.
I grew up in a traditional Christian church that I didn’t fully understand, so I fully rejected it. And I didn’t return, until I fully examined it. And once returned, by faith I fully embraced it. Then the risen Lord transformed and made me fully alive.
The ancient words of the Bible suddenly became living and powerful. They have been a constant source of truth, peace, comfort, guidance, and encouragement since that time. “He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”” ~ John 9:25
But the greatest truth of all is the simplest. And it is the crux of the entire matter. It’s what he says concerning death. Jesus claimed to conquer death by his resurrection, and faith in this grants eternal life to the believer. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” ~ John 3:16
What is the universal fear of all mankind? Death. And Jesus promises life, eternal for the future, and abundant now. Life–the antithesis of death. Death–the enemy of life. He conquered it.
“For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:56-57
This is but a small glimpse into my faith. Perhaps you’re searching for that missing piece–or that missing “peace”. At the very least, examine Christ fully. You really have nothing to lose.
“God, in the end, gives people what they most want, including freedom from himself. What could be more fair?” ~ C.S. Lewis
All photos and text are the original work of this blog's author, except where indicated. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Alexandria Sage and SimplySage with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
(In other words, kindly ask permission. Then give credit where credit is due.)
The mission statement and eight of the categories, with only slight alteration of the wording, are the original work of Stephen Deal, taken from his Senior Convocation speech "Things We Want You to Remember".
The "My Thoughts" category under the name of "Steve", are his original work as well.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Stephen Deal with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Alexandria thanks Stephen Deal for his contribution as a guest author on this blog.
“Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble, attempts what is above its strength, pleads no excuse of impossibility—for it thinks all things lawful for itself, and all things possible.” ~ Thomas a Kempis 
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.” ~ Roald Dahl
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” ~ Colossians 3:12, The Holy Bible
