Shades of Gray from Grayson Co, TX #860 – OUR HANDS

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I have always been aware of my hands. From an early age as I viewed my hands outstretched in front of me, I somehow felt that the image of my hands would always be there. That one would be able to frame the present through those same hands and measure the passage of time by seeing the change upon the frame.

My hands now carry the scars and memories of my life. As do most everyones. I have always heard that the eyes are the window to our soul, but I believe the hands expose a more detailed view of our story.

My hands are stiffening with age. They carry the pain of arthritis. Having never thrown a punch in my life, I still somehow question how I could even have the grip to toss a baseball, much less a punch.

Deadheading flowers in the garden is about as tough a foe as I deal with.

It is a marvel to find details of life within the wrinkles of time.

What story do your hands tell?…monos en theos…†…jim

IMAGES OF SMALL THINGS FROM THE BIGGEST COUNTY IN TEXAS #684 – PROMISE of the road.

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“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me. As it is ever so on the road” Jack Kerouac

It is even a grander adventure and there is much more to be seen with fours eyes instead of two.

Happy Valentines day to all, may you enjoy it with the one you love, I will!   en theos †††jim

Images of small things from the biggest county in Texas #550 – Time on your hands, time for prayer

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I had no idea as to what this image was going to be when I started to craft it. It didn’t take too long, but I was wasting a lot of time with using my hands. Makes it easier, I don’t have to talk or ask someone for help.  I was setting the self-timer (ah great word for another post) then racing against time framing my hands to get them in focus and before my self timer ran out of time.  I kept missing getting it all together by a tick or two. Just a little off, a little off center, a little off angle.

My wife walked in and I desperately asked her asked for help. Why we men are so reluctant to ask for help or directions. We are always determined to screw things up, waste more time and remain lost, by fault of our own, thank you very much.

I asked her if she would trip my camera for me. It then all fell quickly into place by just by making that one little plea, HELP.

I found way too many time quotes that I wanted to share so you will just have to ask google for help. But three jumped out:

“Time is an equal opportunity employer.  Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day.  Rich people can’t buy more hours.  Scientists can’t invent new minutes.  And you can’t save time to spend it on another day.  Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving.  No matter how much time you’ve wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow. ” ~Denis Waitely

“Old Time, that greatest and longest established spinner of all!…. his factory is a secret place, his work is noiseless, and his hands are mutes.”  ~Charles Dickens

And my favorite,

When told the reason for Daylight Saving time the old Indian said, “Only a white man would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket and sew it to the bottom of a blanket and have a longer blanket.”  ~Author Unknown

enjoy your time, tick tock! ††† en theos ††† jimwork

Photo of Da day @ Da Pine #86

“Lifesong”  ©Casting Crowns

Empty hands held high
Such small sacrifice
If not joined with my life
I sing in vain tonight

May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my lifesong sing to You
I want to sign Your name to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to You

Lord I give my life
A living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be Your hands and feet

So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Let my lifesong sing to You

I wasn’t raised in a church so raising  hands in praise and prayer seems foreign to me. I wish I could put my hands up as this Indian lady did during worship. Her hands bore the tattoos and wear of work from a hard life, but she  proudly sang her Lifesong, just like CastingCrowns song proclaims. Someday, maybe I will be able to show my wounds and scars in praise. It just feels unnatural and clumsy of me to do it……peace….nada te turbe…..jim†