Posts in Category: Joy in the Journey

Joy in the Journey- Cre-wait-ivity

In 2008, President Uchtdorf taught, “The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul… Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty. Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment.” These words have been important to me as I have worked to bring more creativity into my life. One may think that creativity is always flowing and spontaneous, and that it does not require much planning or effort. To the contrary, one’s best creative work may come after special preparation and patience, and by learning from repetitive efforts of trial and error. This is certainly the case for me as I have tried to extend my creativity as a photographer. Capturing the image below of a mother swan, momentarily rising from her nest of eggs, required planning, careful effort, and patience.

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Joy in the Journey- The Swans

One of the joys of living near water is being able to connect with the water fowl. We have especially enjoyed the beautiful, graceful, black swans. It may be a stretch to call Michelle the “Swan Whisperer,” but she loves to feed these lovely creatures. Her daily challenge is to selectively distribute the special fowl food to the swans without having all the other species crash the party.

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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?

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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

Starnburg Lake in Bavaria, Germany

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?

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