The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

Genesis 1:12-13

Tuesday afternoon, sitting at my computer trying to write, I remembered that I needed to cut some herbs for the meal I was preparing. I grabbed my camera – as I often do when I go outside – and then didn’t make it back inside for a good hour.

One photograph, it turns out, leads to another. Especially when it is such a gorgeous spring day and the outdoors is such a delight.

The azalea blooms are finished, the dogwood flowers long gone, and the amazing iris collection on its last legs. The big splashes of color have all seen their day. But new growth is rampant, with the fresh leaves shimmering in a hundred hues.

Also, here and there new displays such as the purple clematis are beginning to pop. Before too long the hydrangea will join in, encouraged by the early arrival of the snowball variety.

Finally, I photographed the herbs on the deck. Parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, and basil.

Sometimes, especially when my writing is not exactly humming along, I can offer simple devotional messages via the invitation to enjoy, and wonder, and give thanks in response to images such as these.

The world around us is many-faceted and beautiful and – I believe – the marvelous handiwork of our imaginative, creative, and sometimes whimsical God.

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning” (Genesis 1:31).

In constant gratitude – DEREK