Hi friends:
I'm an amateur photographer. A picture never captures the full glory of experiencing nature firsthand, but photography has become a powerful spiritual practice in my life.
I have had the opportunity to travel to places I could have never imagined, but some of my favorite photos were taken from my kitchen table. Many spectacular sunsets were photographed from a parking lot. There is beauty and creativity everywhere if we are willing to intently observe. Jesus invited us to look at the birds of the air, to look at our surroundings and ordinary objects to learn of Him.
What do I experience when I look at nature?
First of all, a Creator. It takes far more faith than I have to think all of this just fell together by chance. I spoke with a guy last week who shared, "I'm not a particularly religious man, but when I look out at everything, I can't come to any other conclusion than God. It's all God."
I see a Creator who reveals:
Beauty
Personality
Humor
Love
Joy
Peace
Providence
Color
Sound
Relationship
Renewal
Rest
There are approximately 11,000 varieties of birds. There are about 32,000 different species of fish. There are 73,000 different trees. There is a different sunrise and a different sunset every single day. What does that tell me about my Creator? “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” (Psalm 19:1)
I came to Christ by staring at the stars as a kid. I kept saying, “I know You're there, I know You created me, and I know there's a way to know You.” Responding to natural revelation led me to finding the specific revelation of Jesus. Before long, I began to experience the Word, genuine fellowship, powerful worship, and a growing relationship with this Almighty Creator I sought for so long.
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made…” (Romans 1:20)
The key to wildlife photography is becoming still, quiet, and attentive to every sound and movement in nature. That is also the key to becoming attentive to the work of the Spirit.
May every window of the soul lead us to truly knowing Jesus.
Much love,
Linda
A quick update on me…
The first half of 2024 did not go exactly as planned. I've been very ill and incapacitated, and all my fun plans had to be cancelled. However, I am doing 80% better and I have been cleared for takeoff.
God has a hilarious sense of humor and is endlessly creative. After months and months of hospitals, specialist appointments, surgeries, painful treatments, meds, and lots of needles, I’m headed to Costa Rica. Yes, Costa Rica. God pulled this trip together using His miraculous connections to give me an affordable journey. He keeps whispering, “Adventure lies ahead” and apparently He’s not kidding: jungles, volcanos, waterfalls, ocean, sloths (squee!), monkeys, macaws, toucans, 53 species of hummingbirds (!), whales, dolphins, sharks, bats, anteaters, sea turtles, agoutis, peccaries, jaguars, crocodiles, snakes, iguanas, tapirs, big four-wheel-drive bugs, poisonous dart frogs, pit vipers, and other interesting creatures. Jesus knows my love language of animals. Please pray for a safe, fun, and restorative trip. And perhaps a good photo or two…
(A sample of my photography: https://www.psalmone.org/lindaklinephotography )