Breath prayer from Cole Arthur Riley, "Black Liturgies":

Inhale: How long, O God?

Exhale: This is too much to hold.

Inhale: I am not okay.

Exhale: God, with you I am safe,

Inhale: I don't have to hold every pain at once.

Exhale: I can feel and not be consumed.

Inhale: I won't rush my grief.

Exhale: These tears are sacred.

An October scene in Conway, New Hampshire. This is one of those "almost" photos. Actually, I have hundreds or thousands of "almost" photos. I want to be in the right place at the right time with the right sky and the right light. Once in a while it happens, but I sure have a lot of "almost". The problem is with my expectations. And I see only imperfections. 

Life is imperfect. Except for fun with friends, and crisp air, and hot apple cider, and the wonder of fall color, and remembering past joy.

I rarely take a photo that could be described as a still-life, unless one's description of such a photo is rather broad. This one, however, probably fits. I did not rearrange any items. This is the scene as I saw it in Marcia's kitchen. She did ask what I was taking a picture of. I was just amazed to see what I saw. Looked like a picture to me. Could be "art"!!

I find peace as I photograph. Usually, it's a solitary activity. And when I'm serious, I take the big camera, big in terms of megapixels and not size. My Sony is smaller than the Yashica D that I mentioned in my blog yesterday.

This location is not far from the previous post. I got in my car and drove around the area, looking for color. Truth to tell, fall color is not difficult to find in northern Door County in October.

When I was ready to retire, I said to Judy, "We can live anywhere!" She said, "We're going to Nashville!" Other than Tennessee politics, it has been a wonderful decision. We have watched our granddaughter grow from a kindergartner to a high school graduate and now beyond. By extension we have been able to live within 20 minutes of Michael and Amy. Being this close has truly been a blessing.

And there are the fun moments, like this one when one evening Maddy was showing Amy something on her phone. I don't know what it was, but I couldn't help noticing the way the phone lit up their faces and snapped several photos. A daughter and her mom. Special time.

Faces lit by the screen of a phone can be a fun photo opportunity. Try it.

Mystery. Opening to the future or looking back to the past? I've got lots of memories, a lengthy past. Adding days after days to one's long life with how many moments? Some old people enjoy nostalgia. Maybe me too. Looking ahead, I can't predict the future or number my days. Although it's unlikely there are as many ahead as behind, I am hopeful. 

On further reflection about mysteries, I prefer fictional ones: Louise Penny or Mick Herron novels. Movies, and games also fit the acceptable mysteries. But the real mysteries of my life are unavoidable, like where I left my keys or phone. And we say, we'll see how this turns out. Hopeful is the better choice.

On more than one occasion, I said I would love to have a congregation of 3-year-olds. No financial benefits, but so much fun! Children's sermons were always a highlight, although a woman in Benton referred to it as "circus-time"! The gospel lesson for today includes two passages that sound so different. Mark 10:13-16 emphasizes Jesus' words about the importance of children (too often seen as non-persons) in the kingdom of God. The earlier portion of that chapter, Mark 10:1-12, relates an episode of Pharisees questioning Jesus about the legality of divorce. Tough words to digest if you or loved ones are divorced. But I wonder if the point of Jesus' answer isn't missed.

The posed question is a provocative, political one that caused John the Baptist to lose his head when he questioned the marital status of Herod Antipas who had divorced his wife in order to marry his former sister-in-law. Not just a trick question intended to trap or embarrass Jesus about the Law. Maybe a wrong answer implying criticism of the king will result in the death of Jesus as well. 

Jesus answered the Pharisees that Moses legalized divorce because of hard hearts. I think it's the same issue in the following passage, that the disciples dismissed the children because of hard hearts. My own denomination has fractured because of hard hearts. Unable to see women, children, immigrants, anyone who is different as real because of hard hearts. God's community is intended to be inclusive but grudges, judgmentalism, and hatred get in the way. 

By the way, this photo is from Acadia National Park.

Photos stir memories for me, often when the image has minimal connection. This picture is of apples in Door County, Wisconsin. Our friends were invited by neighbors to pick apples from their trees. Of course, I couldn't help taking photos. I do remember these apples were as delicious as any I ever had, maybe more so. I recall that day, and our wonderful friends, and the fun. 

Memories also flow about all of the orchards we have visited over the years, from my childhood and through parenting years. And cider donuts at the Myers Orchard east of Centralia.

But my first memory that surprised me when I saw this image again on my computer screen involved my freshman year at the University of Illinois. My high school classmate had noticed that the apple trees at the home of the university president were loaded with fruit. We could climb the fence and pick some. We did. We weren't caught and we likely picked no more than two each. I suspect we were not the first, nor the last. I don't think they tasted as good as the ones we were invited to pick in Door County.