Friday, September 19, 2008

Contrasts



I am often struck with awe at the amazing diversity of life that God has created. The unique and fascinating people that cover this earth. Even in the midst of the mess we have made for ourselves, the rubbish around us which is only symbolic of the rubbish within us all... even in the midst of all that, there are glimmers of life, of purpose and hope, of softness and readiness to respond to God, of creativity and laughter. Glimmers of the grace God has sown.

I love these photos. The kids playing on the bike in front of an old building. And yes, it's an old crooked house with metal shutters on the front of it. But i like it. And who can tell what life goes on within it? 

The second photo is beautiful i think. I love the patterns. I love the contrasts - blue and white paint, black and white words. And the biggest contrast of all - the mother and child against such a wall. Love and tenderness juxtaposed where a muddle of words are scrawled. But it's real - a reflection of what are lives are like. Love came to us in the midst of our dirted world. A mother and child in a stable.......... that child as a man upon a cross. 

Tenderness so often seems to be pinned upon a bleak backdrop.

"Love suffers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." - 1 Corinthians 13.7 

(photos by Jake Dobkin)

1 comment:

Liz Zelie said...

Oops. Thought these were your photos, maybe I didn't see the credit line before? Anyway, either way, whether yours or his, I really like them!