A Pause for Beauty

My apologies, dear readers for the silence of late. College studies, family entrepreneurial endeavors, teaching, celebrating holidays and birthdays, and the general busyness of life have kept me quite occupied lately. 

Despite all the activity, I did find time to snap a few pictures of some gorgeous clematis growing in one of our flowerbeds. Taking a little time to pause and reflect on the beauty God has placed around us is not only refreshing to us, but also honoring to our Creator, who took the time and care to create beautiful flora and fauna for us to marvel at and enjoy. Ultimately, drinking in the beauty of the flowers, warmth of summer air, and freshness of summer rain cause our gaze to turn heavenward and thank our Lord, Who is more wonderful and beautiful than all of the marvelous creation around us.

On Another's Sorrow

by 

William Blake

Can I see another's woe,

And not be in sorrow too?

Can I see another's grief,

And not seek for kind relief?

Can I see a falling tear,

And not feel my sorrow's share?

Can a father see his child

Weep, nor be with sorrow filled?

Can a mother sit and hear

An infant groan, an infant fear?

No, no! never can it be!

Never, never can it be!

And can He who smiles on all

Hear the wren with sorrows small,

Hear the small bird's grief and care,

Hear the woes that infants bear --

And not sit beside the nest,

Pouring pity in their breast,

And not sit the cradle near,

Weeping tear on infant's tear?

And not sit both night and day,

Wiping all our tears away?

Oh no! never can it be!

Never, never can it be!

He doth give his joy to all:

He becomes an infant small,

He becomes a man of woe,

He doth feel the sorrow too.

Think not thou canst sigh a sigh,

And thy Maker is not by:

Think not thou canst weep a tear,

And thy Maker is not near.

Oh He gives to us his joy,

That our grief He may destroy:

Till our grief is fled an gone

He doth sit by us and moan.

Chilly Spring

Boreas 

John William Waterhouse, 1903

The north wind in springtime, a fitting depiction of early spring in the Midwestern United States. 

Hello World

I'm a little bit shy about starting a blog, thinking I may not have much to say that would be worth anyone's time to read. Also the fact that my time to spend on more recreational activities (such as blogging would be for me) is quite limited makes me hesitant to begin as well.

Despite these misgivings, I decided to share Scripture verses, artwork, photography, poetry, and quotes that may be encouraging or empathetic for the reader on my blog. 

Without further ado, 'Echoes of Light', as it shall be titled for now, is begun. May it be encouraging to all readers and honoring to God.

Ophelia
 Marcus Stone, 1888