Over the past few weeks I have been working on one of those blogs that decided ‘it’ had to written. I have learned not to fight the writing of those kinds of blogs — the words will nag at me night and day until I put pen to paper and post it. Only then am I am rewarded with peace of mind, and a much appreciated sense of accomplishment.
Sometimes I am lucky enough to get out in front of them…the words are written and ready to go, but for some reason, just can’t make myself push the publish button…something tells me to wait. When I ignore that feeling and post anyway, my impatience is rewarded with the accomplishment part, but I never really get the peace of mind that should go along with it.
On the other hand, when I wait, my-oh-my that patience brings with it not only a message that makes my blog perfect, but in doing so, I get to receive a very special reward. That only happens when a series of experiences, thoughts, events, circumstances, people, and…Oh heck, let’s call it what it is — the universe — comes together in perfect harmony in order to give me a precious gift.
How do I know when that happens? I am enveloped by happiness and sadness. I can actually feel the power of both emotions, in a kind of harmonious dance, as they flow through my entire being. I want to painfully cry out and joyfully sing…at the same time!
This past Friday, I was lucky enough to receive one of those amazing gifts…it came via my cousin Danny Miller.
A few months ago, he approached me about participating in a project he was working on. Danny, on top of being an instructor, husband, father and friend extraordinaire, also has a passion for photography. His current project involved taking a series of black and white portraits of people who have experienced difficult challenges in their lives, and whose story would be enormously inspirational to others. He would then add texture to the image by putting words to what his photographer eye ‘sees’. The project is called — Home of the Brave.
I said yes to participating and we had my shoot.
When he had completed his darkroom magic, Danny sent me 6 proofs that resonated with him. We settled on one…
I knew why I picked the photograph I chose…the first time I saw it, I felt it and then, it took my breath away! In that beautiful image, I saw life…all of it. But, I had yet to understand why Danny also chose this particular image.
A few days later he sent me the completed project. As my eyes travelled through the photograph and into the words beneath it, I heard my soul painfully cry out and joyfully sing in response to what I was witnessing.
“Oh my God,” I said out loud, “this amazing man has just given me a precious gift!”
To say thank-you for what I have been given does not seem like it is enough, but it all I have to give…thank-you Danny, I am both grateful and indebted to you! The universe always has a plan! For on top of what he already gave me, Danny’s work has helped me understand why I could not post my current ‘it’ blog. It was missing something really important and now I know what that is!
I will tell you about that part soon enough, but right now I really want to share my precious gift with you.
Please visit Danny’s website at www.fivehundredandnine.ca and his blog tab to view my gift and the other Home of the Brave portraits he has completed so far in this series.
I know you will love them all as much as I do, and I hope you will share what your ‘eyes’ see with both of us in the days ahead.
