A Man and His Sons

Mar
01
2013
by IBK | 0 Comments

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February is a frequent  birthday month in our small family, including my own, so I gave myself a two week sabbatical from blogging.

I pinpoint the time that I became a photographer  to the  Spring of 2008, when I took my year old digital point and shoot camera to Seattle with me on a return visit to the neighborhood where I had lived for 2 plus years while attending graduate school as an  “over 50”, and more importantly  to reunite with friends from my time there.  My friend B. took my husband and I to a small Japanese garden  and it was really through her encouragement that I started to “see in new ways”.  She had such a wonderful sense of composition with her own photography, that I was inspired to keep going.

Several years ago I scanned all of our old film photos into the computer and today as I was reviewing some, I came across today’s image which I took on an old film camera , so a seed was perhaps planted then that finally sprouted in another season.  It was especially poignant since the guy in the red shorts turned 28 today.

I’m reminded of the beautiful lyrics of a song from the old musical, “Fiddler on the Roof; sunrise, sunset,swiftly flow the years, one season following another, laden with happiness and tears; …”    No matter how young or old we are, it matters that we are present in other peoples’ lives and that we engage with others in relationship.  My friend’s love and encouragement started a whole new way of seeing for me, and allowed me to share my words and images with you 5 years later.

Think of someone that had that effect on you and how it’s changed your life.

IBK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Inspiration, Seasons, Seeing In New Ways, Uncategorized Tagged , , , , |

Morning Light

Feb
08
2013
by IBK | 1 Comment

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A quick update to last week’s post:  “Three Pictures A Story Make”.  Several people didn’t understand the point of the real estate sign.  Review the pictures:  1.  The restaurant sign welcomes people to come eat. 2. Birds fly in … 3.  Birds eat on roof of restaurant … 4. Since only pigeons are coming to eat, the restaurant was closed and thus for sale.  I laughed for 30 minutes after finishing the post … it’s a good thing I’m not in the comedy business. 🙂

Today’s image comes from the lobby of the outpatient pavilion at the University of Colorado Health Center. Beautiful glass geometric triangles are pieced together like a three dimensional patchwork quilt hanging in a four story lobby providing light and perhaps comfort to the many stories that must have been occurring there today.

My own visit was a treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) ,  the most common disorder of the inner ear’s vestibular system, which is a vital part of maintaining balance. The little “crystals” behind the eardrum, basically leave their post and float into an area where they don’t belong.  Result: vertigo when turning over in bed or making sudden positional changes .  Solution:  The doctor and her assistant guided me through some assisted moves on a “tilt” table to recreate the dizziness and then, in effect, “rebooted”  the balance system in my left ear, by sending the “crystals “back where they belong.   Who knew?   I knew for sure that I was cured when I walked in the lobby, looked up and starting taking pictures … and no spinning.  Horray! More pictures in focus!

IBK

 

Posted in Aging, Blessings Tagged , , |

3 Pictures a Story Make

Feb
01
2013
by IBK | 0 Comments

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It was a cold and post blizzard day in December in North Platte, Nebraska  and  Interstate 80 was closed heading east.  Having started early that morning in Denver, we were hungry and with time on our hands we looked for a sit down restaurant.  We all like Mexican food and this restaurant seemed “just the ticket” and a respite from the overcrowded emporiums that also sold “food”.  As we “rounded the bend” we saw hundreds of pigeons proceeding to land on …  I’ll let you fill in the rest of the story. We did have some great lattes at Starbucks though!

Oh, wait … a fourth picture!

..

🙂  IBK

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged , |

Winter Sentinel

Jan
25
2013
by IBK | 3 Comments

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Oh you beautiful tree of winter standing tall above the alley as I open the garage door to quickly hop into my vehicle for a run to the local coffee shop for my first stop of several on this crisp, snowless, early morning.  Thankfully, my camera’s in the house, so I have a chance to reflect on this chance encounter of morning light illuminating your  branches while while I go back to retrieve it.  Ever so briefly, the moment is available and today, unlike  other times, I sense that it’s important to notice.  Thank you that I have to look up to appreciate your beauty and presence as you tower over the litter strewn alley and overflowing garbage dumpsters waiting to be emptied of the week’s castoffs.  A reminder that light returns after the darkest night and that success often comes from the attention to ordinary everyday acts committed to for a long period of time …  Theologian and author  Eugene Peterson speaks of a “long obedience in the same direction.”

 

Wishing you moments of illumination this week.

 

Your comments regarding last weeks post, as to what you’ve learned from your transitions, are still trickling in, so I’ll share some next week.

IBK

 

 

 

 

Posted in Seeing In New Ways Tagged , , , |

It’s Your Turn

Jan
18
2013
by IBK | 3 Comments

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My purpose for writing this blog is to offer insight and encouragement during life’s transitions.   I know that many of you reading this blog have experienced many transitions this year.  You’ve moved; changed jobs; lost jobs; are looking for jobs; had babies, are expecting babies; had cancer; are recovering from cancer;  became grandparents, aunts, and uncles; bought homes; sold homes; got engaged, got married; ended relationships; found yourself; learned to live with a chronic illness ; made commitments, broken commitments; lost friends and family members; made new friends;  and so on.  In short you’ve been confronted with or have chosen to take a look at yourself in a new way because of these transitions.

As you can see in today’s image, I’ve been out in the field this week looking for images that tell a story about our transitions and how we “are in them”. I’d like you to finish this blog by sharing some insights about what you’ve learned in your own transitions.  A brief example:  I’ve learned that :  I don’t have to fill in the blanks and force the  answer but can wait to discover the answer when it comes.  My niece taught me just last week that:  “You don’t have to own that” … i.e. that’s not yours to do …

I will use some of your comments (pithy please) in next weeks blog to offer insight and encouragement.  (your identity will not be revealed)

IBK

 

 

 

Posted in Seeing In New Ways Tagged , , |

Building Down

Jan
11
2013
by IBK | 1 Comment

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My grandparents in Germany were married for 62 years and  from my earliest memories , until my last visit with my grandfather when he was 100, the layout of their (and later his) rental residences was always very similar.  A small cozy living room with a modular desk storage area with a medium sized TV ;  a round table in front of the couch where meals were eaten, games played,and long conversations held; a wooden cabinet which held valuables, dishes, wine glasses, vases, and candy and small purchased cookies to offer visitors for afternoon coffee;  a rectangular chase lounge tucked in a corner and finally the doors to the small outdoor seating area, their one bedroom,  a small kitchen and a foyer where they had a storage cupboard, a small bathroom with handheld shower, and a coat and hat rack along with an umbrella stand and a drawer for gloves,scarves and other items. Oh, and of course the flowerpots in the deep windowsill in front of the sheer curtains.

In 1964 when I spent the summer with them in Germany, they began speaking of:  “building down”.  What they meant by that, was that it was time to give away and sell some of their “larger” furniture, let go of items, and re-evaluate what they would need as they planned to move to a smaller apartment that suited their needs and their lifestyle, for their “last” years (which for my grandmother would be another 16 years and my grandfather another 30.)

I am challenged (or perhaps invited) to once again “build down”, to make room for only that which supports what I value, releases me from past identity and accomplishment, and frees me to schedule my life to live in a present moment , not weighted down with things, but released  to lift my hands in worship and joy; freed to receive instead of forcing, and finally to be available to continue to be in relationship with those who are or will come into my life in this new year.

Instead of getting organized this year, ask yourself:  “What am I clutching in my hand that when released, will free me to …”

IBK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Letting Go, New Beginning Tagged , , , |

Night Sky

Jan
04
2013
by IBK | 0 Comments

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I grew up in a small village in South Central Nebraska.  Whenever I wanted to see the stars on a clear night, I looked up.  Living in a city these many years later, I can look up and see some stars in my neighborhood, but not the unobstructed view of my childhood.  Stars light if you will.  I have a desire this year to intentionally spend some time in places with a plethora of unobstructed stars, but in the meantime I wander in my city at night and am delighted to capture the beauty of light illuminating human craft.

Perhaps what I’m really thinking about in this new year is that I’d like to focus  on “blooming where I’m planted.” Observing and listening and delighting in what is, and deepening the learning in some of what I’m already engaged in, but also leaving room to be delighted and surprised about what is “out there.”

Today’s image is  near Union Station, in downtown Denver.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

IBK

Posted in New Beginning, Seasons Tagged , , , |

Calm

Dec
13
2012
by IBK | 2 Comments

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I have often driven myself into a frenzy because I have a “big” something to do.  A big project, a big presentation, a big deadline … and so on.  I remember the day that I took out the word “big” and  substituted a declarative sentence without the adjective.  It didn’t negate the scope of the project, but somehow it made it more manageable and gave me a calmer entree point into planning the execution of the task.

 

Perhaps we magnify our words to match the emotion we might have  about the thing that needs doing.  If we tend toward perfectionism, we know how “big” this might be;  if we’re in a  situation where we’re already doing some major projects, another assignment might “do us in”.  A phrase I often hear today is:  “I’m slammed”.  A translation from one who fits into the :  “back in the day” generation, I think that means, I’m backed against the wall and can’t do another thing or honor my or any other commitments

 

The geese in our image have flown in for the night for water, rest and renewal on a partially frozen lake.  Earlier in the week I had been frustrated about how poorly my pictures had turned out at the “big” night shoot downtown with a photography group.  I tripped over my tripod, couldn’t shoot the angle I wanted; forgot how to change settings  … but I learned a lot from others who generously shared solutions.  So after an hour of practice the next day in how to assemble my equipment, shoot a few practice shots, I made a quick trip to my neighborhood lake for a few pictures at sunset.

Wishing you some small moments of calm during a “big” time of year.

IBK

Posted in Seeing In New Ways Tagged , , , , , |

Do vs. Dew

Dec
06
2012
by IBK | 5 Comments

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Hello Dear Readers,

I’ve taken a break from blogging because, quite frankly, I’ve just been worn out.  I’m learning that just because I can, I don’t have to.  Like the beautiful drops of dew in our image today, there are so many interesting drops of delight that can keep us fascinated and ready to engage in the next good thing.   There have been many good things this year and I’ve learned a lot, and challenged myself and met some wonderful people who have encouraged and nourished me. I’ve “tried on” new activities and discarded old ones (and some of the new ones).  Old habits came back to support me and to discourage me; friendships were renewed and deepened and others let go of; friends and acquaintances received serious diagnoses, and thankfully are recovering; grieving occurred and joy returned.  A year of being human.

 

I’ve also discovered again that it’s easy to let the good things crowd out the better or best things.  Much of my fatigue in the last month, resulted from activity vs. focused engagement on what is mine to do.  Yes of course a lot of our lives require daily maintenance and routine, and maintaining relationships, but if I neglect the inner life for too much outer activity, I won’t be able to distinguish the “dew from the do.”

IBK

Posted in Insight, Seasons, Uncategorized Tagged , , , |

Dancing In The Moment

Nov
09
2012
by IBK | 2 Comments

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We are most anxious it seems when we think back to what was or forward to what will be.  Regrets  for actions taken or not taken;  fearful for actions to be taken and so on.  I’ve been reflecting a bit this week about why I love photography.  When I raise my camera to my eye and look through the view-finder I find that I enter a world of the present moment.  All yesterdays and tomorrows disappear and the focus is to capture ever so briefly a moment in time that allows me to repent of my  own efforts and be “graced” and humbled by what has been provided.  Many years ago I read a book entitled:  “Everyday Sacred” by Sue Bender.  In short, her thesis was to be open to the holiness of living in the everyday moments.  Seeing the familiar in a new light and searching for the beauty of the common is certainly one  way  that I love dancing.

 

Today’s image was discovered during a walk,  near a 400 year old house in Meldorf, Germany.  On my recent trip there I looked up to see the dancer in the side window of an artist’s residence and studio.

What music calls you to dance in the moment?  What might you let go off to start or continue dancing?

IBK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Blessings, Seeing In New Ways Tagged , , , , , , , |