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| Afternoon Walk, Fall 2025 Pecos Benedictine Monastery |
Many years ago I was on a youth retreat with about 100 teenagers. I wasn't just on the retreat, I was leading the retreat. We were walking from breakfast to morning worship and I noticed a cluster of red flowers on the side of our walking path. Later that afternoon I spotted lavender water lilies at the lake where we canoed. And checking out at the end of the weekend, there were bright pink roses outside of the camp office. Even without a camera, my mind was starting to snap photos. A strong enough urge that I'm remembering it more than 20 years later.
I knew someone who took beautiful photos. His advice was "the best way to take a good photo is to take lots of photos." Another friend said casually, "It's all about the light." Their words have stayed with me and returned at just the right time.
This photo above is from an afternoon walk at the monastery. Nothing exceptional stood out as I was crossing the tall grass, but the way the light shined through the leaves reminded me - "it's all about the light" - and I took out my phone for a few photos.
You know what I would like?
I would like to learn to see the way light shines through people the way I can see light shining through leaves. I would like to be able to see the way the light falls uniquely on a person - or the way it encircles someone - the way it illumines them from within. Wouldn't that be something? Let's practice.
