Posts By Kevin Miller
All Things Denote There is a God- The Blessing of Opposites
Complementary colors are sometimes called opposite colors because of the striking difference between the two. In this image of a Las Vegas sunset, the complementary colors of blue and yellow make for a striking difference that is nevertheless harmonious to our hearts. God’s holy word teaches us that there must be opposition in all things. There is important value in the opposites that are part of our mortal experience- darkness and light, sadness and happiness, illness and health, pleasure and pain- to name a few. It is important to realize that these opposite pairs are needful and are beautiful compliments in our lives. We can not appreciate the good without the bad and God reminds us, through the beauty of nature, that we should accept the opposites of life as a harmonious, critical part of our development.
Joy in the Journey- What do you see?
I am impressed that many of the beautiful moments in our lives are fleeting. That is part of our test here on earth- to keep our faith and integrity not only during the happy bright moments but also during the times of darkness and trouble. And since earthly beauty is fleeting, we must look for it during our daily sojourn. This gem in the northern Las Vegas sky got my attention, enough so that I had to pull to the side of the freeway to capture the image. Soon it was gone. What do you see in this short-lived, celestial creation?
Joy in the Journey- Zazen, A Lesson for All of Us
The practice of Zen meditation is called zazen which means seated meditation. The idea is that with time, one can learn to pass by fleeting thoughts and images, thus allowing the mind to arrive at a place of true stillness. In the gospel of Jesus Christ we are also taught the importance of freeing our minds from the cares and concerns of the day, allowing our minds to commune more directly with God. We often use the term “pondering” to describe this process in which we deliberately shut out the hustle and bustle of daily life and allow God to more easily speak to our souls. This image of Starnburg Lake in Bavaria, Germany reminds me of the peace and tranquility we all want in our lives and that is possible as we turn to God and shut out the hectic world around us.
Starnburg Lake in Bavaria, Germany
Gratitude- The Spice of Life
I love that I can live in a tiny speck of the world and still experience the beautiful variety that is God’s daily blessing to His children. One does not need to travel the world to see the changing brush strokes from His artistic hand. This magnificent view was present earlier this week just before I arrived home from work.
Joy in the Journey- Really Seeing
There are daily gems that God lays before our eyes. In younger years, the pressures and distractions of life would keep me from appreciating these treasures. But I am learning to see them and smell them and feel them. One of the best ways to find joy in the very moment we live in, is to actively focus on our five senses. We do this when we listen for the singing of birds, when we eat slowly so as to really taste our food, or when we raise our heads and look around us rather than sequestering into our own little worlds. When we consciously activate our senses, we more easily appreciate the beauties that God wants us to receive and our lives are happier.
Did you see the little gift in today’s sunrise?
