WP Weekly Photo Challenge: Threshold

Krista writes:

“In a post created specifically for this challenge, share a photo that captures the threshold — that point just before the action happens, that oh-so-sweet moment of anticipation before that new beginning. It could be a door about to open, or something a bit more metaphorical like a flower about to bloom. Looking forward to seeing how you capture “threshold.””

So here’s a photo I took upon arrival at the Tel Aviv airport. When I took the photo, myself along with the tour group were excited and had a lot of anticipation of our dreams coming true and being realized by visiting Israel. To view other entries go here.

Tel Aviv Airport

 

WP Weekly Photo Challenge: Street Life

This week Cheri writes:

A place reveals itself on its streets, from pedestrians strolling during lunch time, to performers entertaining tourists on sidewalks, to the bustle of local markets, and more. Whether you’re shoveling snow from your own driveway or walking a familiar route to work or getting lost in a foreign city, a snapshot of a street (or road or path) can tell a tale.

I explored the cobblestone streets of Lisbon one summer, captured above in a shot of one of its neighborhoods, Bairro Alto. I especially loved the city’s sloped alleyways, as well as the graffiti-strewn walls and grittier feel of this particular district.

For this challenge, document the movement (or stillness) of a street: tell a story with your snapshot, capture a scene that reveals a bit about a place, or simply show us where you live — or a path you often take.

Recently, my wife and I made our first pilgrimage to Israel. Here is a photo I took on the corner of busy Ha Kotel Street in Jerusalem, near the temple mount. This street, down through the centuries has likely been walked on by all kinds of people, likely from all over the world. Visit the other entries here.

Members of our Israel trip tour group

Weekly Photo Challenge: Joy

Michelle gives us the following challenge this week: “Whether or not you celebrate a winter holiday, the years’ end is a perfect time to look back at the year-that-was and happily forward to the year-that-will-be. A time of renewal, celebration, and joy. This week, let’s set ourselves up for a happy new year: share a photo that shows us JOY. “

Joy comes in many a various ways, a baby’s laughter, reading an insightful book, embracing a loved one after a long journey, celebrating festivals like Christmas-the birth of Christ.  Check out the other entries here.

A favourite nativity decoration on our Christmas tree

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Mary, after she learns that she is going to give birth to Jesus, sings the magnificat.  (Luke 1:47-49)

“Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else’s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.” -Frederick Buechner

“Now, when I hear that Christians are getting together in order to defend the people of Israel, of course it brings joy to my heart. And it simply says, look, people have learned from history.” -Elie Wiesel

“To serve is beautiful, but only if it is done with joy and a whole heart and a free mind.” -Pearl S. Buck

“I sing my sorrow, and I paint my joy.” -Joni Mitchell

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” -Jesus (John 15:9-11)

Christmas Collage

Weekly Photo Challenge: One

Michelle gives us the following challenge: “This week, we want to see photos that focus on one thing. Maybe you’ve got a stark photo of a single tree silhouetted against the setting sun, or a lone sandpiper wandering the beach as waves crash. Perhaps you’ve caught your mother sitting by herself in a moment of quiet contemplation. Maybe you saw a basket of wriggling puppies, and got a photo with a single fuzzy face in focus.” Be sure to check out the other entries here.

My mother enjoying our Christmas tree several years ago

When I think of the theme one, many things come to mind, including this beautiful Holy Communion hymn by Omar Westendorf, “You Satisfy The Hungry Heart,” sung here by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Unexpected

Cheri Lucas Rowlands gives us the following challenge this week: “Unexpected. The world is an interesting place: we stumble upon unexpected things each day, like signs that are unintentionally amusing, bizarre sculptures, or even strange evidence of a miniature world on the side of a building. So, your photo challenge this week is to capture something unexpected. You can also interpret the theme in other ways: a street scene or landscape that just doesn’t look quite right, an impromptu portrait of a loved one, or any other image that reveals a sense of surprise.  IN A NEW POST CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO THAT MEANS UNEXPECTED TO YOU.” Be sure to check out the other entries here.

My niece didn’t expect quite this close an encounter

This photo was taken at Omega Park, near Ottawa.

The best things in life are unexpected-because there were no expectations. -Eli Khamarov

Any human anywhere will blossom in a hundred unexpected talents and capacities simply by being given the opportunity to do so. -Doris Lessing

Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. -Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew 24:42-44

Weekly Photo Challenge: Habit

This week’s there is: Habit. The stuff of the everyday — places we go, things we do, people we see.

We don’t often think of habitual acts as photo-worthy occasions — after all, they happen all the time. But it’s because they happen frequently that they’re worth documenting; these moments and people are constants in your life and deserve to be commemorated.

This week, show us something that’s a HABIT. If could be your daily walk to the bus stop, or your daily paper lying on the doorstep. Maybe it’s the guy behind the counter at the deli you always visit for lunch, the stuffed bunny your child must have at bedtime, or the view from your desk as you sit down to blog.

Every morning I like to read our city’s local newspaper. The perhaps most famous 20th century Protestant theologian, Karl Barth, once is quoted as saying: “Take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both. But interpret newspapers from your Bible.” Adding to Barth, I’d say that as Christians we are citizens of two kingdoms-the kingdom of this world (i.e. in particular your nation in which you hold citizenship, and in general as a human being on planet earth), and the kingdom of God/heaven. As I think further on this theme and our calling as citizens in two kingdoms, I also am reminded of the following song by Simon and Garfunkel, “7 O’Clock News-Silent Night.” Check out the other entries here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Hue of You

Autumn Leaves

This week Cheri gives us the following challenge: For this challenge, we want to keep it simple: share a photograph with a prominent color (or assortment of colors) that reveals more about you. It could be a symbolic, meaningful shade; a color that expresses how you currently feel; or a combination of colors that excites you and tells a visual story.

My colours and hues of colours change with the seasons. The above shot was taken while walking in Kin Coulee Park this past week. Check out the other entries here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Foreshadow

Echo Dale Park

These pioneer farming machines that our ancestors used when they homesteaded on the Canadian prairies foreshadowed the more sophisticated and highly technological equipment of today. Check out the other entries here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fresh

Fruit and water

Fresh fruit and a glass of water on a hot summer’s day. Check out the other entries here.