"It's the people, Derek. Nature is beautiful and the lake is pretty, but if you want to see God you have to open your eyes to the people."

Humility, vulnerability, and wide-open hearts may well be the cure for the malaise that runs deep and wide in our culture
the very first thing we must question is our own assumptions - at the entry point to any exchange of views, conversation, or potential conflict.
Any exchange that comes from an "I'm right, you're wrong" mentality is destined to journey away from truth. When dialogue is replaced by diatribe, discourse will inevitably devolve.
I believe an image that tells a story is a much more effective piece of photography than something spectacularly beautiful, but without anything to say. Having both is better still; but, given the choice, I'd pick story any time.
Probably the most important part of the writing equation is listening. Not just listening to people, but listening to life as it happens all around me; listening and paying attention; reading between the lines; just having my eyes open enough to let the light in.
There's absolutely nothing in our experience of life that will not be markedly enhanced if only we make the simple decision to engage ourselves with a faith community, and make Sunday morning worship THE priority of every weekend.
[God] has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. - Ephesians 1:9-10 One of the things I especially like about fall …