Happy Easter!
The title of this post comes from an ancient Christian tradition that during the Easter season you should greet on another with the words: "He is Risen!" and the receiver will reply: "He is Risen Indeed!"
So with that simple, glorious thought I leave you to enjoy your day with family and fellow Christians around the world!
HE IS RISEN!
-ehw
Wonderful night at Holy Thursday Mass! Institution of the Holy Eucharist and Priesthood!
The only thing missing was my wonderful wife, Kellie Marie and Baby Echo...staying up until 1030 was not really a good option for those three. We had a great mass, Kalen served, Kevin and Julia sang up a storm in the pews, and then we participated in the procession around the church with the eucharist to the chapel of repose. Me...well I helped with some of the parish photos for the night from my seat!
This is a quick post as I have some quick planning to do for a little quest to see three churches this afternoon during the passion of Christ with some Blue Knights in tow!
-ehw
PS A little experiment with a choma chrome setting on my camera indoors and outside with a straight raw file for you geeks that care!
This man stood fast with the truth of his arguments.
As we move into Holy Week, I want to note how you can spot someone who knows they cannot not win a logical argument. It is really quite simple. As you listen to a debate, if one of debate participants suggests changing the definition of a known word the debate is lost to them. This is when the only hope to win is to make a word change its meaning, or attach an emotion to a word which will overshadow the logical reality presented in the judges's presence.
So with this in mind you should now be able to clearly see what "progressive" really means in debate terms. Progressives will change a word like a chameleon changes colors. It explains why words which mean one thing for all of history, must now change and bow to "modernity." It explains why some people are so hostile to classical homeschooling education. If one is to know the truth as revealed throughout the ages past, it does not allow you to willingly follow an illogical tyrant to your death.
This week as you pray and reflect on what the Lord did for us, put his life into its original context. If you do this I believe you will find the salvation story did not change from Genesis to the Cross or the Acts of the Apostles. Salvation's themes did not change with the shape of the sand dunes, or the empires in charge of the world since the Apostles either.
Salvation history and natural law only change if you personally think you know more than God. It also assumes you can rewrite the laws of nature itself to suite your world view. Thankfully for those times when we all let our selfishness out of the box, we can turn to God for mercy. After paying the piper for our sins, we certainly can get back on the proper path to communion in heaven with the Lord.
-ehw
This week two sisters lost their babies in child birth on the same day in childbirth just hours apart. One of the sisters, and her children, are friends of our family. The loss struck home after our two miscarriages last year, and with our anticipation of Baby Echo's arrival in August. We know of their pain, and pray for their families to weather the storm of emotion which comes with it. The event brought back common question from a few people I talked to: "How can God let such pain enter the world if he is so great?"
Maybe this can help explain a little bit...
A little over a week ago some criminals broke into my car, and emptied it out of everything they could make money from. I was mad, scared, embarrassed, the whole range of emotion. I of course went to mall security, called the cops, and asked if they had anything which could help my situation. As I walked with the security manager to my car we started talking.
As we approached my car he identified how they crooks got in from previous robberies. Then we waited for the patrol unit to arrive with a detective. As we waited I popped the trunk and in it only three items remained. One of them was a 14 year old army camouflage folding chair issued at only one place in the Army.
He looked at it and said, "Were you an OC in the desert?" Well yes I was... Soon I found out he was Sidewinder 39 Ancient, and he found out I was a Cobra 13 Ancient at the Army's National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. He threw artillery fire, and I chased armored companies across the desert floor. We roamed the desert for two years together, possibly only meeting at a dinner or two for mere minutes...but we effected each other's work and knew the call signs.
I asked him how he liked the tour, and he responded it was a tough tour. During their tour out in the desert he had a stillborn baby in 2001. It was then my heart sank, and I knew the other side of a story.
Almost 14 years ago in a desert far far away in 2001:
When my wife had our first pregnancy her blood pressure spiked greatly. The doctor scheduled extra checks, and on her week 38 visit the blood pressure was still at the same spot...high...as the week before. The doctor then said abruptly, "One way or another this pregnancy ends today." Just the tone of her voice put chills in our hearts, and the words sunk into our heads like lead weights in water. After a quick trip home to get our hospital bag we had our baby girl in our arms just four hours later. My wife's blood pressure ended up causing no problems, and quick action by the doc kept the cord around my girl's neck from causing lasting harm.
As we held our baby a few hours later I asked the nurse if the doctor was always that curt in her bedside manner. The nurse said no. My wife however matched the profile of a women who lost her child in the clinic earlier in the year. The doctor would take no chances with this pregnancy, and wanted to protect the baby at all costs. This was why the doctor was so focused during our delivery day.
Ten days ago...
I put my hand on that Security Chief's arm, and told him his baby saved my baby's life. I know my words can do nothing to ease the pain of such a loss, but I had to say them. I was happy to then hear his other children are now strong adults. He is proud of them, as he should be. I did however remember him and his family in my prayers at some point in the days since that moment.
So here is the answer to the question about pain and suffering in this world right under the nose of an all powerful God. We live in a fallen world feeling the effects of original sin. Fallen worlds have sickness, death and people doing their selfish will rather than working for unity in God's will. Through all of this God, still gets the last laugh.
I know babies born without the breath of life go straight to the embrace of God. Then you have incidents like the losses of these three families. I know the crooks got away with my stuff, but in their evil I met a man thousands of miles and years later who's family's sacrifice saved the life of my lovely oldest daughter...my Desert Rose. What will come out of the losses of these sisters today? I do not know yet, but I know there is seed sown for great and redeeming works of grace which may not bloom for decades. When it blooms the name of two cousins will be on it, and they two will rejoice in its bloom as they dance with the Lord.
Until the day this new grace blossoms, I will enjoy the dancing of my blooming Desert Rose as I reminisce on this chance to see how God works his will through both the good and the bad.
Mother Mary leading us to the living light of her son Jesus Christ
Today's reading was about the Transfiguration of our Lord. The great foreshadowing for heaven's glories!
The thought of that reminded me of this photo I took a few weeks ago. A nice statue of Mary backlit and a little flash up front...Well illuminated just like she was in life as she fully accepted and lived the life of love Christ called us to lead.
Well here is to praying we all have a good week dreaming of God's glory!
-ehw
Mary Leading us to Christ at All Saint's Catholic Church in Dunwood, Georgia.
Walking by this statue of Mary, something told me to stop and look again. So I did look again. Suddenly a message screamed out at me, "FRAME A GOOD SHOT!" I am not going to call it divine revelation by any means, but my inner artist saw something it just needed to capture.
Take it for what you want. See what you want. I just saw Mary reminding me her Rosary leads us to study her Son, Jesus Christ. When our moment comes we'll choose which sinner to imitate. By studying Christ's mysteries though meditation during the Rosary, we will find ourselves better prepared for that moment.
-ehw
P.S. Fujifilm X-T1 with a little fill flash to even up the scene a tinny bit. Processed RAW in Capture One 8. So far it all just works and is a lot of fun!
All Saints Catholic Church, Dunwood, Georgia Blessed Sacrament Chapel
Today starts the longest 40 days of the year: Lent. I kept up a small tradition of getting a photograph on the way to work at the church I attend for Ash Wednesday mass. Today it was All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody, Georgia.
One thing struck me in the morning mass, and it was the fact that Catholics on this day are called to put a sign of repentance on our foreheads. A mark that we have sinned and now must begin to the repentance and change needed to draw closer to God. God's mercy is boundless, but it is not available unless we make the internal and external corrections changing our live's to match God's law.
This evening (I unexpectedly had to take the big kids since the pregnant momma was feeling ill at noon) the priest specifically cited challenges of our times. He reminded us of how easy the internet puts threats to marriage, sanctity, chastity, integrity and life in God in front of us. In many ways, instead of making our lives easier it makes resisting the challenges of evil harder. He reminded all of us, our guard cannot drop. The reality is though, we are human and our guard will drop.
As a result, this season of reflection and penance is more necessary than ever for us. It is our chance to refocus our lives towards God. It is our chance to review where new threats from evil enter our lives, how they hurt our community here on earth.
I think most people know this. My wife reminded me tonight Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation in the United States. Despite this fact, she said more people will attend service today on any Holy Day of Obligation on the calendar outside of Easter and Christmas!
So in a world which filled the headlines with wicked spiritual warfare from ISIS, a mayor fired a respected and honorable fire chief for the sin of speaking his faith like Pilgrims did, and people steal identities like a monsoon brings rain...we have a sign of hope from the Holy Spirit. Today more Catholics (and the Anglicans I saw waving on the street for people to come in and visit) went to church to start righting themselves with God's law just because they KNOW THEY NEED GOD to achieve the potential greatness he laid in their souls at conception.
Pretty nice thought if you ask me.
-ehw
P.S. Fujifilm XT-1 with 35mm. Liking the camera more everyday. It just works without getting in my way.
My big three year old...who needs it her way!
Somehow Valentine's day came and provided us a good bit of time together, while we all worked a number of projects simultaneously. Of course the Daddy was able to distract a few with donuts for a while! While three kids got a donut with Daddio (who only drank a cup of decaf)...the big girl enjoyed some peace and quiet with her mother for two hours.
I know some may say we're crazy for having all these kids, and I have to admit when I look at the daily calendar I almost think they are right. When you have children you know who runs the house calendar most days of the week.
Kevin full of heart
Then I look at these photos. I remember the smiles, heartaches, experienced frustrations, lessons going both ways, and the love spelled agape. The moment I work through the memories and reach the agape though I must pause in awe.
See the agape moment is the connection I have now with my parents and in-laws. My Mom just sent me a note telling me she made my Dad's favorite dinner...meatloaf...and I remembered meatloaf dinners she made for my birthdays. I know the stories of my in-laws scrapping pennies to save up for a nice trailer, and camping trips with their family they never forget. Those are moments of selflessness we are meant to live for. Those selfless acts are what connects us from one generation to the next with fondness. I have yet to see a selfish act do the same.
The boy with a golden touch with children..and their greatest defender
In that agape moment His Glory shines through...and I must capture it with a click of the shutter. I hope you can see His Glory in these captures of time as well.
The oldest soul amongst us...with a gift of kindness in all things
-ehw
P.S. Fujifilm XT-1 with electronic shutter enabled...and a whole lot of experimentation going on! Processed in Capture One Pro 8
I only learn with each visit how much more I have to learn...
Two nights ago I read a very short essay on photography. The author (Scott Bourne) exhorted readers to revisit a site time and time again. To shoot the scene from above, below, left, right, with new settings and depth....all because in photography we try to capture three dimensions in a two dimensional frame. When you also consider we artists may try to communicate a sense of the environment and emotion in those same two dimensions I think you can agree the task of making art communicate is actually harder than it looks.
So that is why I again visited a familiar subject. The cross in our sanctuary at St. Thomas Aquinas Church here in Alpharetta, Georgia. I've heard a few sermons about Christ's victory on the cross recently, and it made me think in new ways about those hours when he sacrificed himself for us. Then last week I read about using flash with grid to isolate a subject in broad daylight. Well I had no flash, but I could play with my exposure meter just enough to get me on my way to the same effect. So in the silence of the church I was able conceive in my mind a vision of a piece of art I wanted to share.
I wanted to convey the feeling the devil wanted Christ, and you and I, to feel when crucified or targeted by his dark friends. I wanted to convey the sense of darkness surrounding Christ on the cross. While I conveyed that, I also wanted to give us viewers a sense of hope. I did that by making sure the inner light of the word made flesh shone out above the darkness. I thought this might show how he gives hope to the world in our darkest moments.
See I could also see, in the back of my mind, the terrible atrocities being committed against Christians in the Middle East. Boys and girls my son' Kevin's s age are being tortured, and murdered, under the crucifixes of their churches because their hearts stand with God. As a father and shepherd, my heart and gut is wrenched thinking of what happened to them. I fear what could happen to my sweet children, if spiritual and martial defenses weaken in the slightest degree. The darkness is my fear revealed.
I can also see the light. Those young innocents and martyrs also demonstrate complete faith in Christ's word. They literally display the faith of a child in the face of men with weapons and fully developed strength. Those children are the light of Christ on the cross, hands outspread, using their final acts of faith to call me to greater unity with God in my daily lives.
I have so much more I need to learn and do to live the life God intended for me. It makes me wonder who and where my next lesson will arise from.
-ehw
Kevin goes to his first confession..the joys of a telephoto lens....
Yesterday was one of those milestone days in our family. Our third child, Kevin, went to his first confession. He's been asking to go for the last month, and yesterday was the day set up for a third of the second grade classes to attend. The true milestone though was Kevin asked to go to confession over a month ago. We parents only had to facilitate the sacrament. I believe this is is a sign God sent the gift of faith to Kevin.
As parents, my wife and I believe the greatest judgment God will put on us is whether or not we did our best to bring the word of God to our children. Please note I did not say successfully bring the word, attend at church strictly, ensure memorization of text or anything like that . I said God will judge us our efforts at doing our best in evangelizing our children.
At this point of my spiritual growth I fully recognize the gift of faith is one I cannot bestow on myself. If I cannot bestow this gift on myself, I also cannot bestow it on others! All I can do personally is develop my fear of the Lord into love of the Lord. Where I lack skills in evangelization for my children, I must look for other places for children to find them. After all the yapping is done, the real work still rests with God. God bestows the gifts of the spirit, as needed, for us to accomplish the tasks he gives us.
Over the last year we just did our best to help Kevin learn his act of contrition, talk to him about forgiveness, repenting, and repairing damage made by our sins. My wife and I also constantly work to provide the children a somewhat peaceful environment around the home. There God can speak to our children without undue distraction. We are glad our travels, orchestrated by God, led us to be with many others who believe in the same parental mission.
We fully recognize God's hand guided the course of events inside Kevin's heart. Those events led the little boy to accept God's gift of grace yesterday at confession. It bodes of so much potential grace to follow in his life, if he continues to move on the same path into manhood.
Today however, I will use these photos to remember the moment this little boy took his first step into adulthood as a Catholic. It is wonderful and overwhelming to see God working in our midst. That is after all why I started carrying the camera in the first place...
-ehw
Capturing his Glory!
Kevin signs the book of the elect with his own hand.
St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas wrote millions of words in his lifetime. Today was St. Thomas Aquinas' feast day. So my picture tonight is of his last work, the Shorter Summa. I must say it is a masterpiece. It says more in a paragraph than I can muster with a novel. I am slowly working my way through it. I can handle one chapter at a time. Then I have to really meditate on what he said, because see I am just an old infantryman not used to such big thoughts. Once I get it though, I am inspired for weeks.
Been working the real job a total of 15 out of 16 days straight....so I'm a little tired but also creatively needy. So when my patron saint's day came up today, I just had to take a few minutes to enjoy it in my own special ways. First I got to be with my kids, watch a few minutes of a movie, say a rosary with my daughter, and then grab the camera of course to remember the man for what he was most famous! No I will be off to bed for a long winter's nap!
-ehw
PS To get the effects I experimented with gels on my flash. It was quite fun! Processed in Capture One 8, my current favorite editing suite.
Queen for a day
When a child turns three it is a magical day...a day to play with new toys, enjoy your new clothes, take a nap, eat your spagetti, and enjoy your cake. It is quite a fun moment in time for Dads too...
-ehw
I'm on a trip to D.C. and I really wanted to walk the city a bit...well at 7 degrees this morning and 15 this evening walking around town was not an option. It was to work, to a meal along the way back and to bed. I just don't have the right hot gear to have photography fun today. I'm also really tired after a long day of work. I think I walked an easy six to seven miles today between meetings and around the city. I should be in better shape...
Today out of the blue a friend of mine called to tell me he had joined the Knights of Columbus this year...always wanted to, and finally did it this year. I was overjoyed to hear the news. See my favorite memories from my last stint here in Virginia came mostly from my work with the Knights.
Instead of a current memory I thought back to my favorite memories of my previous years here in the region. An this image taken last year about this time was one bringing back good times with my friends helping others, caring for our families or being the visible arm of the order!
Vivat Jesus!
-ehw
Through the storms of life he saves
The four hour trip, planned afternoon meetings, getting a work out....the plans of man.
The morning storm in the nation's capital...three inches of snow...two cancelled flights (one after I was on board!), the broken luggage carousel adding over an hour to bag recovery, cancelled meetings and arriving after thirteen hours in the dark on a cold blustery night revealed the plans of nature.
I kept my calm...almost completely...read two good books by Scott Hahn and most importantly when I thought I was just going to be beyond frustrated for the day found the place to say my rosary. See I needed calm, and the big glass windows overlooking the tarmac and runways called me. There I stood in the long Atlanta winter sun, the warmth making me relax, and my rosary called.
Today I said the Sorrowful Mysteries (Agony in the Garden, Scourging at the Pillar, Crown of Thorns, Carrying the Cross, and Death on the Cross) and it put me right into my place. I thought I had a bad day? That was a bad day!
Suddenly tonight as I was preparing for bed I knew Christ had provided my daily photography inspiration. I could not pass it up, or fail to share right away. It was the what the spirit wished me to do to give back some glory to the Lord for my safe travels.
Vivat Jesus!
-ehw
Kevin wipes down the trays...
I have to say my boys did well today. Up at 0615 and out the door by 0640 to bus tables for the Knights of Columbus (KofC) Pancake Breakfast at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church here in Alpharetta, Georgia. After a quick wake up call I found them highly motivated all morning, and they never stopped moving. They were great Blue Knights! I think the key motivator was all you can eat pancakes....Kalen (11 years old) served 0730 mass..and Kevin (7 years old) and I sat in the pews. Then it was right back to work.
A great thing about helping out the KofC is that these events are pretty well run for years. So putting a new body into the system at an entry point job, like the three of us busing tables, is easy as cake. If you attend enough times, I promise you'll get promoted to kitchen duty. Money raised goes to charitable works in our local community, to disaster sites, local food anks, parish members in need of assistance, special family focused events, ultrasound devices for children and their mothers; and even abroad.
Working with my boys at an event like this, also gives me a chance to see them growing up. See Kalen blended right in, ready to be with the adults (and learn the skills needed to work with them). Kevin was a cute second grader, but totally focused on doing a good job with a smile. I kept hearing from my brother Knights about how well they were doing. No goofin off, just Both are better customer service people than their Dad. They each consumed and sold the hot chocolate at every opportunity. I was glad when they did not break the bank on refills.
Oh it was a wonderful time to be with my sons! Made a me a happy Dad!
-ehw
P.S. This is why I love my style of photography...I get a chance to capture a moment when His Glory Shines through a person and makes the world a better place.
Kalen buses up the table before the big rush
My ever growing boys
Bigger than who?
If you thought playing tag at DjaDja's house meant running around 14 acres of land on your feet...you'd be so last century! Heck we give the two year old and seasoned citizen the leg up in every way. In fact the only guy running on foot was the cameraman!
-ehw
I'll confess this little one is a sweetheart, and I'm partial to her since her parents are good friends of ours. However I think those eyes make the shot, and capture your heart. Her eyes will captivate you in person, and I hope I put such a feeling in this photo.
To accomplish this little shot I was playing with my favorite little lens, the Fujinon 23mm F1.4. In this photo I experimented with an extremely shallow depth of field, opening the aperture all the way just to see what it will do. Because I was using a mirrorless camera, my Fuji XE-1, I was able to see the DOF in the screen as I composed the image in real time.
I know some purists out there will be screaming that professionals use a viewfinder, and that I am violating some law of photography since I did not have my eye up to the viewfinder. Heck I might as well have used a cell phone right? Well probably yes and definitely no.
See part of the reason I switched from traditional DSLRs to this mirrorless design was I got comfortable keeping eye contact with my subjects during composition. An instructor told us how vital was, and at first I was like yah right...but then I tried it. Eye contact helped me take a great group photo of 64 VIPs. Why? Because by looking at my subjects I kept control over them. It then helped me take individual subjects mind off the camera and kept it focused on our conversation. With younger kids it became much less about the camera, and more about the game we were playing. I found more candid moments caught, and fewer cheesy smiles that look like the child in under duress.
Well...the journey is still moving forward as I learn more about my little craft...and I hope to share more of these lessons as I go forward with you!
-ehw
The theme for the day is to honor veterans for their service, both those who died and those who continue to serve. In its original form, Armistice Day recognized the War to End All Wars. Americans and Europeans moved into isolationism, turned inward and also sowed the seeds for the next war. Free nations cast down their arms, and allowed others to prepare the engines of war to enslave them until it was almost too late. Today we see the same problem around the world. Engines of tyranny now spin up and prepare to pounce when weakness reaches its most critical point.
As a historian, and man of Christian faith, I cannot in good conscience follow that example today. I know there are good people in this world. I also know there are those who give into evil. Those people seek to either turn me to sin as an accomplice or make me their slave. The enemies of freedom will never rest. The enemies of building the Kingdom of God will never cease adapting to our transient strengths in their attempts to tear it down.
In a nation of almost 350 million we have only about 1.5 million under arms today. The nation's recruiters cannot get enough young men to join the service due to lack on interest, poor fitness, and (frankly) intellectual incapacity. Many men get rejected due to gang affiliation and drug use. So the administration is actually trying to bring foreigners (legal and illegal) into the ranks to defend this country. As a reminder of history....when every great nation began to commission others to defend their statehood they fell. Just look at the history of Rome. Republic to tyranny. Native sons to mercenaries.
So today please consider something a little different for Veteran's Day. Don't just thank a veteran, raise a veteran.
As a parent myself I can now feel the fear and angst felt when the child raises their hands to say, "This I will defend." Despite the angst I know my life is but a transient one. My days of quality service as a front line fighter now extend far into my past. If my children want to be free, and give that gift to their children, they must one day put veteran somewhere on their resume.
It is time we all realize it is not enough to just thank someone else for the gift of freedom. It is time for each man to serve where able. Service in the active duty military, guard, and police, fire and rescue all keep us safe. It does not have to be a career...just a portion of life holding the line against the terrors of the night makes you a worthy veteran in my eyes.
So today do more than thank a veteran. Raise a veteran. Your grandchildren will thank you one day for giving them the gift of liberty.
-ehw.
The ability to shoot fantastic people, things and events is what keeps me coming back to this hobby. I seek out lots of challenges, and they help me grow both as a professional and personal.
This '68 Shelby GT500KR was a hoot to be around. It is one of four that year to have both an automatic transmission and an air conditioner. It sounds real pretty when it is running as well.
During this shoot I learned firsthand the value of speed, efficiency, and technical skills required to provide top tier products. I realized about 25 things in my last accounting of to improves from this shoot. The biggest one I can mention now is the value of shooting in a good lighting window or creating your own good lighting.
As I created these images I could understand the technical masterpieces so many artists create with good strobes, reflectors and scrims. On the day of this shot I did not have a large enough scrim...say about 10x20 feet... so we moved the vehicles all around to make this work out in good lighting. Try as I might the 46 inch circular just did not cut it no matter what we did.
Despite all that I still produced a some really nice images I am happy to share!
-ehw
PS. As will all my images they are available for sale, and 10% of the sale price will go to charity.
As a high schooler I so longed to escape the drama and pressures to simply conform to popular culture. I had no desire to participate in underage drinking, running the edge of the law, or disrespecting my parents. I had no real love for the show described as funniest of the times...the Simpson's. Here we see the prototypical popular culture Hollywood wants us to accept: A dunce Dad who worships beer and donuts, the Mom who is good hearted, the girl who always knows best, and the little boy who is a bratty idiot bumbling through life. Any number of shows continue this tradition today.
I thought then being an adult would allow me to just be...me! Then came college and adulthood. That pressure to conform to popular culture just nevers stops. I was watching football one Sunday last year, and noticed the commercials were just a rehash of everything of those years but even worse. Dumb men, women on display, worship of bear and stupid stunts by young boys.
I finally realized the reason I kept being targeted like this was I refused to come inside the "normal" range of tolerance for this behavior. Where most say that this is simply harmless, silliness I could not in good conscience allow my children to see it, before they had the Armor of God to fend off the vices.
So I've been supporting this little boys club at church, called Blue Knights ( www.beholdpublications.com). In fact a friend and I founded the parish club for our boys. Since then the group remained small, not for lack of marketing...simply because it competes with so many other things out there. I pulled my eldest from the last part of two baseball practices last year to attend these meetings...yep we're not the norm. We shut off broadcast TV, and screen what we see on Netflix. Radical? To most yes. However only the beginning of what I must do as a parent.
My wife in her spiritual journey learned the thing we will each be judged on by Christ will be how we did my our children in terms of bringing the faith to them. I learned contemplative faith is a gift of God given to some, but not all. As a result, whatever we do for our children to raise them as children of God requires us to provide each child the unique skills and rules necessary for them to traverse life's turbulent seas.
My Father repeatedly said the same as I grew up, "I love you the same. I just love you differently." As a child I did not understand it as well as I do now. Of course I also wish the English language would use the proper words for types of love more freely. What he said really echoes the bible parable about the workers coming in at different times...or being given different amounts of talents. To each God loved them the same (unconditionally). However God gave of himself to each differently based on the man before him.
Some children will never pass the stage of the Fear of God (doing what is right as to not disappoint God). This is fine, because if they keep the Fear in their hearts, they will always live inside the boundaries of natural law. This takes them towards God's Kingdom with their fellow men. Other's given the contemplative gift, well maybe they will be quiet enough to listen and heed God's word. From that personal message I pray they develop a Love of God, where they make God's ways their own freely without reservation. Either way, as a Father I would be happy to one day have them beside me worshipping God in heaven for all eternity.
Society has no interest in you making it to heaven. The world we see on TV wants you to buy this good, pull the election lever for their candidate, or pull you from others and focus on your personal pleasure. So to each of you out there contemplating the road you will travel with your family, don't be afraid to step outside the norm. Homeschooling, one parent employment, staying up every night working late in charity for your public school child, finding the right worship methods for you, finding the right role models in faith....each journey is custom built for you.
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."
-Robert Frost
Happy praise God Sunday!
-ehw
P.S. These photos are what you can do if you turn the norm on its head....Halloween should be looked at for a Christian as the eve before All Souls Day when we praise those of virtuous living! We should pray for our family, friends and selves to be on the same road to heaven!