In the Land of the Living

I love how the Psalmist expresses his life experiences and his faith in God, in Psalm 27. Today I feel like I can definitely relate to him when he said, "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living" (Psalm 27:13). Like the Psalmist, I've learned that when life doesn't seem to make sense, I need to search all the more determinedly and intentionally for God's beauty.

One of the best ways I cope with frustration, confusion, and disappointment is grabbing my camera for a photo-shoot—"Do not worry about your life. . . . Why are you anxious? . . . Consider the lilies . . ." Jesus woos (Luke 12:22-31). These pictures were taken this afternoon "in the land of the living"—specifically, at the Dow Gardens in Midland.