Tag Archives: antidote to despair

The joy animals give

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Continuing with my promise to deliver images here that offer hope and break through despair and cynicism, today is all about animals.

Animal antics can amuse us, spellbind us, and move us. I hope you’ll enjoy these animals. May they lighten your spirit as you imagine what their next move may be.

I shared this first one with you last year, but it was the image for my August 2017 calendar. Though I’ve set aside August for one of my favorite months, I’m a little reluctant to put away this image. (My September calendar photo is a silhouette of a tree at sunset. It’s pretty but lacks the emotional appeal of this sheep.)

This next photo may not at first look like animals. My husband and I were driving past a meadow and saw what appeared to be sticks among the grass. Continue reading →

Scenes to keep despair and cynicism at bay

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In last week’s post, I made a promise to share images with you that inspire hope or serve as an antidote to despair or break through a cynical heart with their beauty.

With apologies to Texas friends who are understandably sick of too much water, today’s post shares some beautiful places along the northern California coast, where sea and fog meet rock and land. You’ll find these places (though never the exact same view) from Trinidad, California, north to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

While Psalm 23 talks about the restorative powers of still waters, sometimes you may need the ceaseless rush of the tide waters to recharge your soul.

Last week, I pondered the question “Will things get better?” By now, you’ve probably seen countless images of the devastation in Texas from Hurricane Harvey, but you’ve also likely seen moving photos of people helping one another.

A minister of mine once said that one of the best ways to beat the blues is to help others. Even if you aren’t in Texas, there are ways you can help from wherever you live.

  • UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief) is already there helping. Please consider donating to their efforts (this link takes you directly to the donation page to keep relief supplies flowing to Hurricane Harvey’s victims.).
  • The Red Cross is also on the ground there.
  • The Houston Chronicle offers other ways to help, too.