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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Is It Stealing?



is it stealing God
capturing time through a lens
is it stealing God?








Is it stealing God is it stealing?
Crouching down then half kneeling,
one worn denim knee nesting on wintering
weeds gone gold in the fleeting sun o’er a farmer’s
fallow field.
Is it stealing?

Hungrily taking photos
attempts my heart knows are folly,
capturing time through a lens,
digital morsels marking the majesty of a single moment,
then another,
and another.
Nourishing my soul as I feast upon Your bounty,

Is it stealing?

Is it blessing?

Pausing to see with ready attention beauty dying
before my eyes as light departs.  
Observing the luminous globe sinking into the horizon,
sky ribboned lavender, heather, cornflower, fading blue
tears wet joy glide down iced cheeks,
feeling full satisfaction simply, (simply?)
witnessing the wonder of it all.

This act of narrowing expansive awareness into
images that if printed will decay
or stored virtually as pixels will likely be
forgotten
long after the wild grasses have crumbled
the seeds swaddled in soft soil
birthed and re-birthed,
surely more seasons
than I shall live.

Is it blessing God is it blessing?
Crouching down then half kneeling,
one worn denim knee nesting on wintering
weeds gone gold in the fleeting sun o’er a farmer's
fallow field.
Is it blessing?






I just realized this was my 613th post. There are 613 mitzvot (commandments in the Torah)

Hver torsdag:

Skywatch Friday









and then, she {snapped}

Haiku Friday




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Posted by Laura

112 comments:

  1. The images are marvellous Laura!

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  2. My heart longs to tell my head it is a blessing. But something: my head? the weight of fear? peaks in and says are you sure? Oh Laura, I look to you and all those who bring light, for assurance.Right now I need to believe it is a blessing given freely from above. But your thoughts echo for me. I don't think the giver of love thinks it is stealing, but creeping in from somewhere, "is it stealing?" I sit with a cup of tea and a pile of work next to me. But I would love to just sit with my tea and discuss how to just embrace the blessings.

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  3. Your words are always blessed with divine purity !!!

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  4. ah i think perhaps it is after his creative heart you know...and i imagine he has some favorite moments he looks back on as well...think you will get a pardon on your stealing...smiles.

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  6. No not stealing at all ... I would say being thankful, recording and appreciating the wonderful gifts of beauty God has created for our pleasure.

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  7. Such beauty you share today, Laura. Your images and your words, a treasure.

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  8. The light is amazing in these photos! One cannot steal what has been freely and most lovingly given.

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  9. Those milkweed macros are simply stunning!!!

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  11. Fantastic shots and I love your words too.

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  12. such rich and luminous words...stunning images. instead of "taking" pictures (particularly of things in nature), i've come to think of photography as "receiving images." and sometimes it's just time to put the camera down and "be" in the moment...instead of trying to capture it. you are a blessing, laura! thank you for sharing beauty with the world.

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  13. Lovely images, the lighting is gorgeous! Happy Skywatching!

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  14. Beauty that nourishes the soul ~ your poetry and photographs. It is a blessing, capturing to share and inspire. I read your every post, often more than once, and a peace comes over me. Laura, your generosity and creativity know no bounds. The Quilt this year was extraordinary. You make the world a more beautiful place. Thank you ~

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  16. I think the Divine Artist would say "It is freely given , so it is a blessing... all is gift!!"

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  17. I believe it is God blessing us. I believe that is blessing God.

    That you brought these thoughts to us, that you even thought of this riddle of God.

    How very blessed we are.

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  18. Wonderful photos with beautiful light!
    Have a nice weekend!

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  19. Awesome words and pictures. A blessing from God. Have a nice day:)

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  20. No, not stealing - maybe if you were to take the beauty and hide it away, just for your own eyes ... but when you so generously share it with so many who would not otherwise see it ... then no matter whose it is, you are borrowing it at the very most, and as others have said, blessing the rest of us with it ...if you consider it God's, perhaps then consider yourself an emissary of same, delivering the beauty in your own beautiful way ...and thank you

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  21. Wow, really special and beautiful photos!

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  23. It's all blessing! Stunning shots. Just breath-taking!

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  24. i really love this post! wonderful pics! :)

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  25. Yes, lovely texture, great light,I love. Greetings.

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  26. Lovely captures, beautiful golden light!

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  27. Tears, Laura....these tears and your authentic beautiful heart and voice tell me this is a blessing and I'm so grateful for the question you pose here so truthfully. ♥

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  28. I don't think it's stealing - I think it's reflecting.

    Love the 'Ku. Thank you for becoming part of Haiku Friday.

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  29. Beautiful pictures, particularly that first one.

    It's not stealing when Beauty is offered so generously.

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  30. OH WOW, what a strong and beautiful poem!

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  31. I think it's a blessing, a tool for focusing on the big and little things we often overlook. It's a meditation of sorts. I love your poem, which isn't stealing either, though it comes from an invisible pool of talent.

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  32. No, not stealing. just beautifully done.

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  33. I truly think that God approves of capturing his glory!

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  34. Beautiful, Laura! Photos are magnificent! And your poem is lovely -- perfectly describing that (sometimes difficult & frustrating) process of trying to capture & preserve the beauty that you see to share with others. Excellent! And, if it's stealing... then you are Robin Hood! ;-)

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  39. This is so so beautiful !
    the pics and the words too ..

    And no no, its not stealing. though you can never match the beauty soaked in by eyes :)

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  40. Thank you everyone for your kind words. I do recognize that it is indeed blessing, that is the journey of the poem... the question mark at the end is there to make all of us think...in those golden moments while taking the photos though, these thoughts really did cross my mind.

    So funny Pamela... I had thoughts of Robin Hood floating through my mind while out in the field and writing the poem later too.

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  41. The photo are gorgeous. I am in awe of your poem, writing is not one of my strong points.

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  42. This is really beautiful thank you for you r visit and kind words

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  43. Magical and mystical post ~ lovely ~ (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

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  44. Nothing but goodness here. wow!

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  45. Wonderful photos, great poem,

    I used to think that when the Bible talks about living water that it was something I would just gulp up for myself. I've come to a different understanding and your header text and your post remind me of that the living water is something that flows through us to others. I think part of that is the creativity that you write about that each of has, that is released and flows outward to others.

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  46. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!

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  47. Isn't beauty there to be shared, making it twice blessings? You show gorgeous photos, and I feel blessed by looking at them :-)

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  48. Beautiful captures! I enjoyed them very much.
    Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

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  49. All I can say is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful words...
    Bless You,
    Laurie @ Pride in Photos

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  50. each and every image is magically gorgeous!

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  52. A question that often arise and I think logic fail to answer. Purity of deep silence may dissolve this question??

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  54. I am so glad that you just follow your heart and gift us with what you see. For that I am most grateful and give thanks...

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  56. Those are truly beautiful images.

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  57. Your photos are such blessings, as is this amazing poem. I haven't been here in a while, and I've missed your rich images and your incredible heart. So glad to know you continue to fill the world with such beauty.

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  59. Blessings ... definitely ... Thank you for these exquisite moments!

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  60. I liked your poem, Laura, but I my mind was also involved in answering the question. I.e. I was very much into the taking of the pictures but not having permission from the farmer.

    So, my answer then (not to entirely waste my mind) is that probably not but it would be nice to clear the poet/photographer by getting permission to photograph from the farmer. What if it were his children instead of the waning plant growth?
    ..

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  61. Lovely photos. It is a blessing, God gives us the beauty of this world for those with eyes to see.

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  62. thank you for generously blessing us all. when the milkweed pods open their long weathered necks and release their milky white dream clouds...it speaks to me deeply of promise and strength.

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  64. I think God would be so pleased to see that one of his admires his hard work so much. I'm sure he wouldn't ever see it as stealing.
    Beautiful photographs.

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  65. Laura, this is just beautiful. I think God would approve of this 'stealing' of the beauty of His creation! Preserving photos of His world, as well as sharing them with others in this way....and accompanying them by heartfelt words.

    (Thank you for being so responsive in 'Pantry.' I have just gone through the poems and have seen signs of your visits very evident along the way!)

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  66. It is definitely NOT stealing, and it definitely IS a blessing!

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  67. Your photographic/poetic inspirations read to me like a prayer set before God as incense - NOT stealing!

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  68. gorgeous shots. stealing the beauty only to share it here. :)

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  70. Exquisite photographs and word images - SO HAPPY to see you receiving the amount of comments your work so richly deserves! :)

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  71. What an interesting question you pose here. Judging from the magnificent way your capture the natural world, one could not imagine a god regarding the activity as stealing.

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  72. Gorgeous Laura! I often the same--is it stealing and if so, how does it feed the inner sense so much--touching and thought-provoking write

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  73. A blessing, no doubt; and aren't we lucky to have the eyes to see and the desire to partake. They're all around us, these gifts, and you have a keen ability to capture them and share.

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  74. WOW! SPECTACULAR photos and the most beautiful poem. A rich feast in here today. Blessing, definitely blessing.

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  75. The light in each of these is truly so beautiful, Laura.
    So nicely done.
    Happy Sunday to you!

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  76. Fabulous, both the photos and the poem. And to answer - It's worship. It's praise. It's communion.

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  77. Yes, it is a blessing... such beautiful images... how can it be stealing? But I appreciate the consideration, the questions you're asking... I also am touched by the relationship it is invoking.

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  78. Hardly stealing - I'd say it's more like gratitude on your part and a blessing on those of us lucky enough to see your photos!

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  79. This is definitely not stealing. You are sharing God's beauty with all of us. Thanks you for such inspiring words and captures.genie

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  80. Love the poem--and the sunlight though the milkweed floss in that first photo is stunning.

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  83. It's a blessing,certainly! When one is able to reflect back and reconsider what and how to assist! Nicely Laura!

    Hank

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  84. Beautiful images and fascinating verse.

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  85. No it's not, it's actually sharing! :) Have a fabulous week!

    Liz (yacb)
    Liz (mlc)

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  86. Beautiful images Laura! It's a blessing being accorded and shared. Those that God's giveth to us all. Nicely!

    Hank

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  87. I absolutely love the light! Beautiful pictures.

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  89. It is worship, Laura. Pure praise.

    This poem is beauty itself. I see both the speaker of the poem and the beloved world captured in her lens. This is just lovely, and it makes me think about poetry as stealing, blessing. Thanks for that.

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  90. The awe of such blessings - the overwhelming sense of a grateful spirit can still be subjected to the questioning of our human nature. Reading this was a blessing. Thank you

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  91. What a great eye you have. Gorgeous macros!

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  92. exquisite pictures.and I would say that these are our feeble attempts to immortalise for our mortal selves the eternal beauties of divine creation.

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  93. Wow beautilful, the third picture became my favorite;-)

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  94. Basking in His light and love is not ~

    Lovely pictures and words ~

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  96. I believe it's a blessing. :)) Lovely photos.

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  97. You are a blessing! :D
    It is not stealing it is basking in his glory~
    Gorgeous...I love your photos @>----------

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  98. Hello Laura, thanks for dropping by my post, i read your profile! Is your MS karmic or from a past life? Sorry, just asking. This photos are great, i don't know how you did that, but really great and a bit surreal.

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  99. I really like the notions being tied to hunger, the mention of morsels...that urgent feeling tied to such fleeting things.

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  100. Very beautiful images! Even if it is stealing I bet it is a rewarding one... fantastic verse.. its a a different perspective...

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  101. Pulsed with a rhythm divine... had a steady pulse that stole this heart

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  102. Beautiful images!
    I really enjoyed your lovely words. Very thought provoking.

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  103. Wow you have really done an amazing job here... the top image is almost dream like it is appearance.

    Mollyxxx

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  104. THANK YOU LAURE.....you captured the capturing! your words ring so true...
    aw, the pixels soon forgotten, but not the moments.

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  105. Amazing shots. I love them all. Visiting from MYM.

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  106. SUCH ethereal shots, love them... Thank you for sharing on Weekly Top Shot #59!

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  107. Beautiful words, Laura and those photos are stunning! :)

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  108. Beautiful poem, and yes, your blog does bring us mitzvot!

    The photos are stunning captures of light and contrasts.

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  109. Gorgeous images - interesting poem. I can't remember which culture thought you were stealing souls if you took their picture - couldn't have been the Japanese. I think they try to record every minute. I think it's just time captures. If only it didn't run in one direction only but as it does, it's a fight against the vagaries of memory.....and it works somewhat. Thank you!

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  110. Wow..this is so beautiful..words or photos on their own are wonderful..together amazing...Michelle

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  111. This is one of the most beautiful poems I have ever read.

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Bright Sparks:

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