This gallery contains 25 photos.
when I come home filthy, covered in mud, bleeding from my brush with thorns and other sharp things of nature and smelling of the earth that I was crawling around on. There are few things in this life that renew … Continue reading
while Barry Manilow played in the background, I spent some time catching up on photo editing. I culled through landscapes, portraits and random shots of various things that caught my eye.
The photographs are often exactly what I expect them to be, but not always. Sometimes, there is more to them than I saw with my eyes; images within images that make me realize, again, just how much there is to see.
The intimacy of holding wonder and beauty in the lens of my camera with nothing but light and shadow in between is profound; the effect it has on me is sometimes startling. Just as a piece of music that soars and resonates takes my breath, so do the images.
Contrast, light, shadow, color, reflection … they capture my imagination and intrigue me, teaching me something new every time. The same shot taken a hundred times will always yield a different result as nothing, not air nor wind nor water nor light, stays the same from one moment to the next.
I find, on occasion, that I have missed shots because I have become so mesmerized by what I was seeing that I forgot to click the shutter. At these times, the magnificence of nature or the human spirit permeate my very being and make me more than I was before; more aware, more real, more emotional, more grounded. Simply more.
There will always be, no matter where I go or what I do, more to see and experience. There will be new ways to feel old emotions and catalysts that will throw me where I never thought I could go. That is the beauty of photography. Every shot is an original. Every shutter click is a memory kept. Every image is a monument to a single, solitary moment in time. The wonder of that knowledge never fades and it never, ever gets old.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace ~ Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
Posted in a photographer's heart, being myself, bible verse, blessings, blog, creation, dreamer, dreams, earth, emotions, from my heart, imagination, knowledge, Life, life experiences, nature, Pentax, Pentaxian, photographer, Photography, weather, wildlife, words, worship
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from a musical journey that altered the perception I have of music and, perhaps more importantly, the percipience I have of myself.
A few months ago, I was introduced to the musical genius of Gustav Mahler. I was taken aback by the way his music touched me, moved me and the joy that it brought to my soul. The profound effect that it had on me was, however, inexplicably isolating; moreso, in some ways, than the other eccentricities that keep me balancing just on the cusp of the world around me.
I had a burning desire to share the brilliance and excitement of it. I found, though, that I could no more explain the way it touched my spirit than I could the way that words and images fill me up. After a time, I spoke of it less and less and held the wonder of it inside myself like a caged bird. I spent many nights lying in bed thinking of it and praying that when the morning dawned, comprehension of its magnitude would become evident.
I made plans to attend The Cleveland Orchestra for their performance of Mahler’s First Symphony and thought I would go mad waiting for the day to arrive. Having listened to tens of dozens of hours of his compositions, I was, in my mind, prepared for what I would experience; I wasn’t even close.
From the first bars, I was riveted. The music soared through the grand concert hall, covering me with a power that I simply wasn’t expecting. Hearing it performed live was like nothing I could have imagined. It moved me so esoterically that I wondered, at times, if I would lose control completely and be asked to leave. I was overcome with emotion and was left, by the end of the concert, beautifully, wonderfully, unimaginably drained.
For a time, I was unable to speak more than a few words about it as it swirled and churned inside me, weaving itself into the very core of my being in a way I didn’t realize was possible. At some point during this time, I was reminded that to fully understand music is to have no real understanding of it at all. It is its own language and changes even as it stays the same.
I ascertained that sharing the overwhelming impact it had on my life was irrelevant for even if I could put my thoughts into words, the intimacy I shared with the music was mine alone. I was, in that singularly, enlightening moment, set free from my own expectations. I knew then that I didn’t need anyone’s understanding of my perception of the music or how it moved me or touched me or sustained me.
I was, in an instant, irrevocably changed for the better and for that, I am thankful.
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise ~ Psalms 98:4
Posted in being myself, bible verse, blog, Cleveland Orchestra, emotions, excitement, feelings, friends, from my heart, God, Gustav Mahler, joy, Life, life experiences, music, Photography, Time, travel, words, worship
Tagged beautiful, beauty, blog, blogger, emotions, excitement, gina minton kearns, gina minton kearns blog, Gina Minton Kearns Photography, God, life, photographer, photography, travel, words
I have found myself looking back over memories of the past year. While some of the looking has been within the vast memories of my mind and heart, most of the thoughts have been invoked from the photographs that depict the life I have lived. While I appear in but a few of the photographs (part of being the photographer), they depict what I have found to be inspiring, beautiful, profound, enlightening and without doubt, some of the most exceptional moments I could ask for.
I have learned that it doesn’t matter who you are or what you know (or think you know), there is more to learn. People are complex and, at the same time, simple and beautiful My niece Gracie has Down’s Syndrome, but I’ve learned from her that the things that make people different aren’t an anomaly or defect, but something to be praised and honored. She reminds me that, if I get lonely, I only have to look into myself to find company. She only sees the beauty, the positive and she never fails to offer a smile. She reminds me to smile, even when I don’t feel like smiling.
I have learned that I don’t have be alone when I want to go to the hard places; that there are people willing to go with me, not because they want to go, but because they know I want to. A long and arduous trek to the White Rocks this Autumn brought this thought process to fruition. My sister knew how much I wanted to go and because she didn’t want me to go alone, she, along with my niece, Sophie and cousin, Emily, made the journey. It was exhausting and breathtaking and full of fellowship and fun. It reminded me that there are people in my life who care about the things that are important to me and want to help me succeed in finding them. These are memories that, as long as my mind lasts, will stay with me, for they are precious beyond words that can describe them.
I learned, through my niece Sophie, what it means to be courageous and not to balk when an obstacle presents itself in my path. She is fearless and has a sense of adventure that makes me proud. I’d like to think that, somewhere in her heart, she has a tiny bit of me and that between the two of us, we can see and experience everything. She, while sometimes a challenge, is an inspiration to me and a constant comfort. She is beautiful and strong and reminds me that life, even when it seems to be mediocre, is an incredible journey that should be loved, for the moment, at the moment; the rest will fall into place when it should.
I have been reminded that music has no boundaries when it comes to what moves the soul. I have been introduced to new music that has touched my heart in such a way, that it will never, ever be the same. Friends come into my life and then fade away, but the mark they leave is everlasting and causes a chain reaction of the thirst for knowledge of music in its purest form and the peace that it brings to my mind. For those who have influenced me, I am thankful, for there is much I would have gone my whole life without knowing had there not been special ones to show me that there was more than what I thought possible. Music always has and will continue to be a balm to my spirit. I am grateful for the musicians that have graced my life and made it, because of their presence in it, richer and more beautiful than I could imagine.
I have been reminded just how wonderful it is to have the love of a beloved pet. One who will let me hold them way too tightly as I cry into their soft fur. One who knew all of my secrets and then took them to heaven with them, for I cannot imagine that these sweet animals that stole my heart could be anywhere other than in Heaven. They were my friends, my confidants and my loved ones. As I think of them now, tears run down my face, for I miss them terribly. They were the best of me. The purest of me. And the most loyal of any friend I have ever known. They were an extension of myself and brought me great joy, teaching me even as they lived, what it meant to be a friend. I have learned so much from them and thankful to have had them, for but a moment, it seems, in my life.
I’ve been reminded that sometimes, something as simple as a ride on a tire swing can bring joy unspeakable. Through time and space, I was transported to my childhood and immersed in the beauty of the memories that bring me happiness. There is nothing like being reminded of happier times to bring a smile and moment of happiness to my heart. I am thankful that the little ones that I am blessed to be a part of their lives, who remind me what it was like to be a child, to be carefree and to have no worries other than when I get to swing again. My blessings continue to mount as I reminisce over the past year.
My parents, whom I am blessed to still have in my life, have been a profound influence on me. The took me to church when I was but a babe and, while there were times I didn’t want to be there, it all came full circle when I came to the point when I wanted to give my life to Christ. They encouraged me when I was down, supported me when I was an embarrassment to them and loved me when I was, as I know there were times when I was, unlovable. I owe so much to them. My parents. My biggest fans. My rocks.
I am reminded of those who have gone to be with God, who will grace this life I live no longer, other than in memory, and am not ashamed at the falling of the tears at there absence. I am richer for those I have known, more blessed for the ones that have graced my life and more fulfilled because some of the most wonderful people I have ever known have passed through my life. It has, while moments of sadness would say otherwise, been an incredible year of learning and discovery. I am blessed beyond what I deserve and am thankful for every experience. Not all of them have been good, but through each one, I have grown a bit, both spiritually and in the human factor. I have no regrets. I have no wishes for do-overs. While there are those that have left a lasting impression on my life, be they alive or dead, I am grateful. Each experience has brought me closer to that which is written that I should accomplish. I am thankful. I am grateful. I am in awe of my Awesome God.
Through it all, there is joy unspeakable in the beauty that my Heavenly Father reveals to me, through His astounding beauty and wonderful works. I am thankful for all that I have learned this year and anxiously await what He has in store for the next. God Bless my friends, followers, family and everyone who feels that their life has, for one reason or another, been in vain. Know that you are important to so many and that without your influence, things, at least for me, would have much less wonderful.
For each moment, each experience, each happiness, each sorrow, each disappointment, each joy, each heartbreak, each smile, each tear, each lesson … I am grateful. I can only hope that the next year will bring as much knowledge, love and friendship as this one. I am grateful. More than words can say, even through the hard times, which have been many, I am, thankful and optimistic. That is my nature. I am a Christian and a Sagittarius … What choice do I have, after all?
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is the word of the day. It is no secret to anyone who knows me or anyone who follows my blog that I am a follower of Jesus. I am thankful beyond words that He saw fit to redeem me, but not everyone I come into contact with on a daily basis can claim the same truth. That does not make them less worthy of an encouraging word. Everyone deserves to be encouraged by the people they hold dear and if they have no one who holds them dear, then where can they possibly find the encouragement they need to face another day. Just because someone does not believe as I do or think as I do or do as I do does not make them any less worthy in the eyes of the Lord. If I choose, willingly, to withhold my encouragement simply because someone does not follow the path I follow, then I am no better than the worst of humanity. In fact, because I have been given a heart of encouragement, if I withhold it, I am worse than the worst of humanity.
I have been through some very dark times in my life. Times when death seemed like the best option for everyone. I know what it feels like to lie, broken and defeated, at the very bottom of the pool. If I keep that knowledge to myself, what have I gained but bad memories and haunting imaginings? It is important to share the things that have hurt me deeply with others who are hurting. It gives them another rung when they are on the last one on the ladder … another knot at the end of their rope. To keep that which hurts me inside and not share it with people who are experiencing the same hurts and disappointments that I have faced is selfish and self-serving. If what I have gone through can help even one person to find their way, then it was worth it. Maybe, at the time, it didn’t seem like it, but like gold, I have been refined through the trials and fires of my life. And through the refining, I have gained knowledge and clarity. If I keep that to myself, then the dark valleys I have passed through will remain only that. Dark valleys. But if I share what I have learned, then the darkness I faced becomes a light of hope for someone else who is, even now, in that dark valley.
My cup, even when it seems to be empty, is always half full, and more often than not, overflowing. I am an optimist. I always have been. A dreamer, some would say, who always had my head in the clouds. I won’t deny that. I am a dreamer. I have big dreams, but those dreams have cost me, at times, dearly. There is nothing wrong with having dreams and hopes, but if those dreams and hopes end within myself, then I have learned nothing. I would hate to think that all the tears I have cried and all the prayers I’ve prayed and all the hurt I have harbored have been for nothing. I have something, as so many others, to offer. It takes courage to open my heart and hurts to others. A courage that, at one time in my life, I wasn’t certain I possessed. But I know it now, just as I know that, as time goes on, there will be more valleys, more fires and more refining. I’m okay with that, as I know that what I learn, someone else, if I am willing to share it, can find hope in their own darkness by knowing that I have faced that same darkness and came out in the light. I encourage everyone to encourage someone. There is no limit to what we can accomplish if we but offer ourselves as an example to those who are suffering. I can only hope that I am an encouragement. If I am not, then I have failed at the most important task I have ever been given. Encourage one another. Love another. Find the good in one another. Our lives will be richer for it; of that, I am certain. I know mine is, and for that, I am thankful.
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is, second only to Good Friday and Easter, the singularly most important religious holiday that is celebrated. It is true that Christmas, to the secular world, has been commercialized with thoughts of Santa, spending money and giving gifts that may or may not have any bearing on the holiday itself. It has become a day about getting, getting more and then being disappointed in not getting enough. But to those of who hold Christmas in our heart for what it truly means, it isn’t about getting at all, but giving. It is the celebration of the Virgin birth of the Christ child. Now, it is no surprise that there will be many who will scoff at this. That is not unexpected or taken in offense. I know, in my heart and soul, what I know in my heart and soul. It brings me great pleasure to honor Jesus at the celebration of His birth. To revere Him for the Savior that I personally know Him to be.
It is a beautiful image in my mind to think of a sweet little baby, wrapped in swaddling clothing, lying in a manger that is normally used to feed farm animals. As it has been taught to me by wise teacher, swaddling clothes were usually reserved for females in order to depict the suffering that they would endure through childbirth. To find a male child wrapped in swaddling clothing was simply not done. But Jesus, more than any woman bearing a child, would suffer. And not only would He suffer, He would do it willingly.
I can think of none of the children in my life, not my daughter nor my nieces, that I would sacrifice for anyone, much less a sinner, a murderer, child molester, thief. Not a chance. I would sacrifice myself before I would offer up any of those little ones dear to me; and only then as a trade. But willingly? I cannot fathom. Nor can I fathom knowing the day and the hour that I would have to turn my back on any one of them, leaving them to fend for themselves while I remove myself from from their suffering because that was the only way to obtain the redemption that their death would bring. It would be hard enough losing a child unexpectedly, but to know, day after day, that the time was drawing near. I cannot fathom. Were it up to me, it is quite obvious that mankind would be doomed to die in their sins for at the last moment, I would balk. I am, after all, only human.
I find it, therefore, an honor and privilege to revere the Christ Child and the Father who was willing to sacrifice Him for my sins. I’ve heard it said that God is callous and cruel, but what an enormous amount of love it would take for mankind in order to make Him turn His back on the Son He loved just so that we might be redeemed. Nothing callous about that. It is, without doubt, love in its purest form and I can only hope that, as I go along this life I’ve been given, I can give as unselfishly as my Father and my Savior.
2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered
.7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
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was never in my plans; it wasn’t even in the back of my mind. A thought not yet thought, a dream not yet dreampt. It never really occurred to me that I could design greeting cards until one day, four years ago, when I was looking for a place to make a birthday card for my friend Len. I wanted to use a photograph of our Great Pyrenees dogs to upload to a card in order to wish a happy birthday to my dog-loving friend. I had looked up such sites before, but could find none that would allow me to upload my own photographs onto the card. And then, out of the blue (always a sure sign that a blessing is in the midst), I found Greeting Card Universe. It was exactly what I had been looking for and the site said that I could upload my photographs and make cards out of them and actually make money off of them. I had an overwhelming urge to do just that, caring about the photography and not really expecting to make any money from what came out my heart and head. The site said that it could take several months to sell a card and it could be years before any revenue was made.
My husband, who was still living at the time, encouraged me to make more. To put the words in my heart with the photographs that I had been given. I had to come up with a name for the store and because I give God all the glory for what I see through the lens of my camera, Through the Eyes of the Spirit just popped into my mind. Jim was one of my biggest fans and a sounding board for new ideas and thoughts. He was brutally honest and I appreciated that, as honesty is very important to me. I began to put words to the photographs I had taken and created cards that I could scarcely imagine that anyone would want. I was at a crossroads. A place where I had two choices; share what I had been given or cowardly hide it away because I couldn’t fathom that anyone would want anything that I had created.
So I did it. I took the leap of faith and uploaded a card with my own photograph and my own verse and prepared to wait for months or even years for anyone to take an interest. Eleven days later, I sold my first greeting card. The feeling was one of jubilation, honor, humbleness and, quite honestly, disbelief. I simply could not believe that there were people who had an interest in the words I had to say, words that were given to me, those not my own, but placed in my heart by a faithful God.
I immediately considered the first sale a fluke and then more came. And more after that. It seemed that I had a knack for coming up with the words that people wanted to say, but didn’t quite know how. I made card after card, the verses rolling off my tongue as though they were native to me. What inspiration and joy I had from each one and every time I had a sale, I was thankful and gave thanks to the Lord who had given such a wonderful thing to me. It became a ministry. One of encouragement to the downtrodden and suffering. It wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Many times I cried over the verses for they were born of life experiences and hardships that I would never have dreamed could ever be anything more than a burden.
It has been four years since I joined the world of greeting card design and more than 20,000 cards have sold. Yes, you read that correctly. Twenty thousand. I am stunned. I continue to be stunned. And with each sale, whether it be for one card or 500 cards, I feel the same as I did when the very first one sold. The thrill and exhilaration has not faded. Each time I get a notification, I first thank God, for it is all for His glory. My name will fade from the mind only moments after hearing it, but His name will still be on the lips of His people until the end of time. I am honored that He has chosen me to be a part of His ministry through something that I love as much as my life itself.
In my heart of hearts, I am a photographer. I see things differently and that, in itself, is a blessing. I would love to be able to thank every single person, from all fifty states and thirty different countries for their support. It isn’t possible. I don’t know who buys my cards. All I am privy to is the location from which the card was purchased, but that doesn’t impede my desire to pray when I sell a card for “loss of mother” or “college graduate” or “thank you from bride to father”. I am grateful for each one and feel a sense of gratitude and humbleness that out of hundreds of thousand of cards, someone picked mine.
I don’t take this blessing lightly as it has had a profound influence on my life. And I am, as I said, very grateful. I am blessed beyond what I have the words to say and at times when I am feeling low, He lifts me by using the talents and gifts He gave to me to bring joy that would otherwise be absent. I am in love with Jesus and take great pleasure in knowing that He loves me more than I can ever love Him. Although life has a way of kicking me down from time to time, it cannot compete with what lives inside of me. Life will go on whether I am a part of it or not, but how wonderful to know, that through the gifts given to me, that I am able to bring joy and encouragement to others. That, without doubt or reservation, makes my life worth living and for that, I am grateful beyond words that I can say.
So again I say, to everyone who has ever purchased a card from Through the Eyes of the Spirit, I hope you got even a tenth of the joy from receiving the card as I got from creating it.
Isiah 41:10 ~ So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
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the good, the bad and the indifferent. Birthdays have always been a very cool thing to me, whether it is mine or someone else’s, I just feel happy. Most of the time. This year, my birthday came and went. There was cake and ice-cream, family, friends, co-workers; all the usual birthday suspects. It was different, though. This month started out with a fairly serious facial injury and mid-way through, adding insult (and injury) to injury, I fairly seriously injured my shoulder and cracked a couple of ribs. Now it is no secret to the people who know me well that my mind, in the best of times, is a scary place to be. During the worst of times, I walk around with a bio-hazard sign flashing above my head.
But, as I so often do, digress. I can chalk part of it up to the end of October, that which I both long for and dread. I have a love/hate relationship with that month and it nearly always makes me high. November, however, is a month of coming to terms with the oncoming winter, saying goodbye to the leaves, hello to the bare sentries of winter and getting ready to be cold more often than not. And my birthday is this month and that always makes me feel extremely special. That was not to be this year. With each new event, there were melancholic thoughts of days past, days that I didn’t care that much for when they were the present. I thought much of my late husband and felt guilty, at times, that I was ready to let him be at peace and begin the process of getting on with my solitary (as that is how I like it) life.
I don’t discount the many blessings of the last year. That would be wrong on so many levels. The blessings have been numerous and I am thankful for each one. Blessings sometimes get lost in the fray of life, though. I have family suffering from the loss of a loved one, dear friends that I am unable to account for and dealing with turning 45. Any of these would be like turning a page during normal times, but when they all happen at once, well, it weighs on the mind.
Did it make my birthday less happy? Yes. Life has a way of doing what it wants. That doesn’t mean that I can’t be happy today, or tomorrow or the next day. It doesn’t mean that I am beyond hope. Unhappiness is a part of living and if there is anyone who has lived their entire life saying they have never experienced it, then you have seen, up close and personal, a liar.
November is nearly over and the round of Christmas parties, Band concerts, Christmas plays and a thousand other things that I will be trying hard to find a place to fit will present themselves, (at the last minute, always at the last minute), and at the same time, working diligently to keep my sanity (a fine line at best). While it is true that I’m closer to fifty than I was only a couple of days ago, that is the furthest thing on my mind. I am happier now than I have ever been. Free, so to speak, with a daughter in college and myself on my own. But there are times, as everyone knows, when it would be nice just to have someone put their arms around me, saying nothing as I cry until the tears were gone. There is nothing wrong with that. It is not a sign of weakness, but proof of humanness; it is life. It can be, at times discouraging, but in that moment that we find ourselves, unless we make it our mission, will not last forever. I am already looking forward to doing it better and with more enthusiasm in the next year; whatever “it” may be. I am a survivor and no matter what comes at me, I can depend on the Jesus to which I cling to lift me when my wings are too broken to fly on my own. I am truly, humbly, honorable and indescribably blessed and that, I don’t want to forget.
Looking at the here and now can sometimes be overwhelming … but the here and now will be the there and then tomorrow, so don’t let it break you. Let it get you down, cry when you need to, throw things if it suits you (my favorite thing to do in a crisis), but at the end of the day, realize that our life, our thoughts, our fears are part of what makes us who we are and without them, we wouldn’t really be anyone in particular, but like everyone else. I like being different, even when it’s painful. Though I have many regrets, there isn’t anything I would change because if I were to change them, my ability to relate and empathize would become obsolete. An easy life is no challenge, but rising above the odds and making the best of the worst situations takes us to a whole new level. It is my goal to serve my Lord and be the best that I can be for Him. Be encouraged, my friends, for nothing lasts forever. Nothing.
Psalms 28:7 ~ The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart is trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will praise him.
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when folks start taking stock of their lives and thinking about the things they are thankful for. There isn’t enough room on this blog to even begin to list all that I am thankful for, but find that I want, more than anything, to list at least a few. There are, of course, the obvious; food, clothing, shelter, job, family – all the basics covered in one sentence, but what about the other entities and experiences? The bounties that I sometimes forget to mention because I’m too busy or preoccupied to remember to be thankful for; like music, silence, blue skies, white clouds, whispering oceans, warm sunshine, rustling leaves, winding mountain roads, bare trees, songs to sing, long, engaging, thought-provoking conversations, dancing to rhythms in my head and a myriad of other blessings that, for the moment, escape my memory.
As I write this, my mind wanders to some of the places I’ve been over the past year. Not just physically, such as my favored falls or the rocks on top of the mountain, but where I have been spiritually, through the infinite grace and bountiful blessings of my Father God; the ministry He has given me through greeting cards and the ability to string words together and the counsel I have been able to share because of the trials and joys I have experienced. I have met many new people, seen many new faces and heard much new music that has left me richer and more empowered than I was before. While that is often the way it is with time and change, there are moments, spaces of time that span a few weeks to a few months that have changed my life, in one way or another, irrevocably.
Not all of the experiences have been good ones, but I am thankful for them anyway as the lessons I learned from them were invaluable. At the time, I suppose some of them seemed more like punishment than teaching, but as time passed and wisdom took the place of uncertainty, the evidence of growth was prominent. The beauty of wisdom and strength as they become more clear in my mind and heart help me to understand that each experience, good or bad, is not coincidental, but a piece in a puzzle that never seems to be fully completed. I find that stimulating conversation with a like mind is just as compelling to me as sitting alone finding notes on my keyboard as I work to learn to play the music that forms the words that, though I often cannot voice, I cherish nonetheless.
I have reconnected with some old friends, those that I had, for one reason or another, lost touch with. It’s funny, somehow, that as an adult, the friendships that were forgotten or simply ignored over the years have rekindled and have more depth and meaning than I would have ever found in my youth. I have found new friends, some that have moved me beyond any words that I could ever find the ability to express. A connection that is not of the world that I live and work in every day, but is of something else altogether. A pairing of minds, thoughts and ideas that would, if not for divine intervention, have been missed altogether.
It isn’t easy being different in an unusual sort of way from nearly everyone else I know and rekindling the connections to the artists and musicians from my past has encouraged me and made me feel a part of something that I have missed for way too long. In the midst of what was already a part of me are the new friendships, those that fell, practically from the sky; new friends on the surface, but in my heart and soul, are as old as time itself. Finding familiarity in the unknown is exciting and exhilarating; not to mention a balm to the spirit.
My family has survived one attack after another this year and each one has, in its own way, brought us closer together, making us realize how important each of our unique qualities are in forging the dynamics of lasting bonds that cannot be broken. As always, during this time of celebration and family get-togethers, the loved ones who have passed from this world are brought to the front of my mind and their wisdom and guidance, love and security, words and ideas fill me up. It isn’t with sadness that I think of them, but of longing that I can’t sit down with them for a bit and ask the questions that I wish I had asked while they were living. It never occurred to me, not in a realistic kind of way, that there wouldn’t be time to ask, to know and to find. Along the same lines, I think of the questions and thoughts I share with my friends, the ones who seem to understand the very core of my being without explanation. There is more power in that than could ever be described in words.
Yes, on this eve of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for many things, but most of all, I am thankful that I am child of God and that He loves me enough to give me everything I need and much of what I want simply because He loves me. Yes, I am thankful, not just today, but everyday, for this beautiful life that I have been given and the growing realization that it is a privilege to be a part of a world that keeps on turning day after day after day.
To all my friends and all my family I wish you a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving. I am blessed beyond measure and what you add to my life is a very big part of that blessing. My wish is for your lives to be filled with awe, wonder, happiness and joy. Yes, my blessings are too numerous to count, and for each one, I am thankful.
“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so; little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong”
Posted in believer, blessings, blog, christian, death, death of a loved one, dreams, emotions, Encouragement, faith, family, feelings, friends, from my heart, God, Greeting Cards, Hiking, Jesus, Life, life experiences, love, Mountains, music, Photography, spiritual healing, story, strength, Thanksgiving, Time, worship
Tagged beautiful, beauty, blog, death, encouragement, faith, family, friends, gina minton kearns, gina minton kearns blog, Gina Minton Kearns Photography, God, grace, greeting cards, life, love, mountains, music, nature, spiritual encouragement, Through the Eyes of the Spirit
a force to be reckoned with. As Hurricane Sandy makes her way up the East Coast, I find it both exhilarating and humbling to follow along. I have many friends, some in flesh and blood, and others on Facebook and Twitter that I follow along with. I wonder and think about their well-being and hope they will be well and safe, but at the same time, well, what can I say? I want to be in the midst of the waves and snow and wind and carnage. I want to wield my weatherproof Pentax and document the most awesome entity that is called Nature. It is in my blood, my heart and my soul and even though I have mixed feelings about it, it doesn’t change the desire.
I can’t pinpoint the exact moment that I knew, beyond all rational thought, that I wanted to be a photographer, but it was somewhere in the middle of Mrs. Duncan’s third grade class. I was caught taking photographs of the classroom and of the teacher, and she took my camera away. As far as I know, if she is still living, she still has it. Documentation of life as it happens became a pure obsession, one my parents (as those long ago sought after piano lessons) thought would pass. But it didn’t pass. Instead, it became an inferno as opposed to a campfire.
As years passed and photography consumed me, it had to take a back seat to the reality of having to work to feed my family. A day job has, as far back as I can remember in my adult life, been the bane of my existence. I got married and then had a child. It wasn’t in my nature to quit once I had started something, so even though I loved my daughter and tried my best to make my husband happy, I could think of little else than leaving it all behind to pursue my dream.
But dreams are just that. Imaginings and hopes that may or may not come to fruition. The timing, at that particular moment, wasn’t right and I had responsibilities that kept me grounded. I have no regrets (well, maybe some regrets where the philandering, cheating, no-good husband was concerned), but as far as my daughter, absolutely no regrets. She was, is and will continue to be a driving force in my life. I had pretty much given up the hope of ever being a “real” photographer.
Fate and destiny has a way, though, of cutting through all the nonsense and paving a way where there didn’t seem to be one. God knows the most intimate secrets and desires of my heart. I began creating greeting cards a few years ago and have, to date, sold well over 20,000 cards. God has blessed me well beyond what I believed I was capable of. I have recently signed up to be a part of the Virginia Tourism team and excitement doesn’t even begin to cover what I feel.
Saying things out loud has always been a problem for me, but writing about or photographing and then writing about them is as natural as the breath in my lungs. I look forward to every new adventure, each new sunrise and everything in between. One has only to look at two sunrises or sunsets in succession to realize that they are completely different and have very different things to say. Many times, I have (much to my family’s chagrin and disapproval) made myself a human lightning rod in the midst of thunderstorms, but take not into account my safety. As I see it, if I die while photographing the wonder of nature, it has been a good death.
My blog posts come from my own brain and my own heart and my own point of view. While there are times that I am certain I step on the toes and belief systems of the people I love and cherish, I cannot stem what comes from my soul. To do so would be to deny that I, in any capacity, cease to exist and I have worked way to hard to overcome such ideals to let them hold me captive anymore.
Funnily enough, this post began as encouragement to those who are about to face an awesome display of nature and try to survive, but, has become more of an homage to those who follow along. I am honored. I am humbled. I am inspired. Life inspires me and that, in itself, is one of the most wonderful things I can imagine.
Posted in believer, blog, choices, christian, courage, dreams, emotions, Encouragement, facebook, faith, feelings, friends, from my heart, God, Greeting Cards, insecurity, Life, love, Photography, piano, Southwest Virginia, story, Time, travel, VA, worship
Tagged beauty, blog, creation, encouragement, faith, family, friends, gina minton kearns, gina minton kearns blog, Gina Minton Kearns Photography, God's creation, jesus, life, love, mountains, nature, Pentax, photographer, photography, spiritual encouragement, Through the Eyes of the Spirit
