Thoughts on Vocation

Recently, a friend was sharing her work frustrations with me.  She has a vision to streamline processes and serve her clients better, but it seems, at present, that her manager has been slow to see the value her ideas could bring.  Change, especially when we want it, seems never to happen overnight.

Her desire for change and positive progress reminded me of a book I'd read some years ago.  Visions of Vocation, by Steven Garber, is a wonderful journey through culture and work and the Kingdom of God.  Why are we here? What is our purpose on the world?  Spurred on by her impressive optimism in the face of such inertia, I decided to revisit this book, slowly reading through it starting a week or so ago.

Knowing what we know about the world - with all of its pain and sorrow and brokenness and inefficiency and futility - what are we going to do?  Is it possible to resist the temptations of cynicism, to keep oneself from becoming resigned to the fact that things are broken?  Is it possible to find the energy to create goodness and to solve problems so life might be better for others?

Morning commutes.  What difference does our work in this world make?

Scripture talks of a God who has tears (notes Garber), a God who cares about this world and burns in anger at injustice.  A God who asks His people to walk with Him in love and righteousness and setting the world to rights.  A God who declared that all things shall be set to rights and indeed have been- on a cross on a Middle Eastern hill so many centuries ago - though yet somehow this truth is still being worked out and we have some sort of role to play in our day-to-day.

Knowing what we know, how will we respond?  As I revisit these themes in Garber's book and think about my work in the world - engineering and photography and writing and whatever other threads of my life - I am struck by the fact that my life has perhaps realized a lopsided bent towards knowing in an absence of doing.  Yes, I have learned a lot from books and mentors and college professors, but I suspect in many ways I have done a poor job of translating that knowledge into action, into true interaction with the world around me.  Knowing what we know about the mess around us, will we choose to love and engage?  Or will we withdraw, content to stay in a comfortable library of books?

While I do not know the specifics and practicalities fully, I know I must engage the world around me more deeply.  I'm spurred on by my friend's optimism and perseverance as she seeks to bring goodness into the spheres of her life.

Will you join?  Will you help?  This world needs goodness.  The darkness needs light and the pain needs healing.  By God's grace, let's be a part of it.

The Patapsco River in October

The Cold Front

A cold front came through, right when I was too busy, stressed, and unprepared. 

So I got sick, and spent Sunday and Monday mostly taking a series of naps.

I am reminded, yet again, that we need rest.  We aren't meant to be mechanical machines that run at 97% efficiency, going, going, going.  We're organic.  We need sleep, relaxation, time with those close to us, food, and so much more.

We need healing.  I had spent the past week oppressed by a difficult-to-pinpoint anxiety that was surprisingly washed away in grace as I spent time in prayer, talking with Jesus.  He reminded me of this truth: I have made you new.

If a cold front comes through and knocks you off your feet, perhaps it is a blessing: stop doing so much and pretending to be a diesel engine.  Rest.  Be rejuvenated.  Be restored.

Amidst the coughs, despite the sore throat, somewhere in the pile of tissues (yes, quite possibly!), there just might be grace.

South Branch of the Patapsco River

2017 Seniors: Lexi

I had the pleasure of taking Lexi's portraits at the Howard County Conservancy earlier in September.  Lexi is part of the legendary girls lacrosse team at Mount Hebron and has already made her college decision!  More lacrosse awaits!

I love shooting at the Conservancy for all its variety: gardens, barns, fields, forests, stone walls, and more!

Wishing Lexi a great rest of the lacrosse season, her senior year, and the start of new adventures!

Create Goodness

I just wrote most of a blog post and erased it.  So many thoughts swirl and I cannot give you a coherent story yet.  So instead of the poignant, deeper thoughts, a more lighthearted signpost will have to do!

Some time ago, my friend Mark invited me to join him at the Vintage Market to write poems.  Having not written a poem in years, I found this a peculiar request.  Yet he insisted and I relented and off I finally went, on an overbooked weekend, to Blacksburg.

Nestled between old records and old leather shoes are two desks.  One, solid wood, with a 'FREE POEM' sign on the front in orange duct tape.  The second: particle board, joined by a kindergarten-sized blue chair.  I have my 1953 Silent Super.  Mark has his 1930s Royal.  We are ready to type.

For five hours, people pass by, in search of a vintage sweater or jewelry or other knick-knacks.  Some look at us and smile oddly. A few engage - "Typewriters!  I remember those!" A few take us up on our offer.  "Free poems?  Really?"

"Yes," we say.  "Choose a topic!"

And so for Amanda I wrote about Sunday Mornings. For Eleni, a poem about her big family; for Chloe, Halloween. Mark gave away rhymes about spaghetti, coffee and cats, Iceland.

Whether ridiculous verse about pizza or poignant stanzas about home, it was an absolute delight to catch a glimpse of these souls and bless them with a brief poem about something they enjoyed and, in most cases, deeply loved.

As we talked with these people we barely knew, and as some even teared up over poems about their dogs, I was struck by the goodness and simplicity of it all. A connection was made, a gift was given, and people's days were made that much better.

I want to write more poems.

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So to you, dear reader, I say this: Create Goodness. Find a way to tell someone today that their life matters. Be a blessing. Be a part of someone's healing. Who knows what joy will come?

(check out the poetry at Word on the Street)