Saturday, January 8, 2011

Beauty and Strength

I love tigers. I took these photos at Busch Gardens. When we've been to the exhibit before, they've been asleep. But this was later in the day and some were prowling about. I'm in awe of the beauty that belies their strength. (Sorry about some of the reflection, all these pics were taken through the exhibit windows.)
We soon discovered that it was feeding time as this one kept going to the door. Some were getting a bit cranky, too.

My heart felt sorry that these animals who are physically able eat whatever they catch, had to wait for others now to feed them. I love Busch G., but I guess it's just seeing all that strength going to waste.
  
"My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit-not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength-that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in.

And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:14-19

Is my spiritual strength dependant on others? Church, teachers, friends? Or do I spend some time learning on my own to feed my inner strength through His Spirit?

May my aging exterior belie the inner strength. Praying all us'n live this year to the fullest!

Oh, this is just an extra picture. That's my son and grandson across the exhibit waving to us~ Photos:karenevans

9 comments:

Janean said...

karen, you made a great point. depending on others for all of our spiritual food is less than we need to maintain good spiritual health.

hugs, lovely one!

Kathy Cassel said...

Waiting for you to put these all together in a devotion book....

Dave said...

You have taken some good photos here Karen. A tiger is a magnificent animal. I think it is the cat that should be called the 'King of the Beasts,'rather than the lion. - Dave

Kathryn Magendie said...

They are amazing and beautiful animals - I do have a hard time with zoos, though I know some do good things, still... in that "perfect world" species would be where they were free ...

Jean Wise said...

wow beautiful photos and thoughts! You have a deep spirit to see the extraordinary in the ordinary!

Julie Gillies said...

Love these pictures, Karen, and how you tie them in SO well with a relevant point. I especially love the one with your son & grandson--it almost looks like they're in harms way with the tiger approaching them.

Determined to live this year to its fullest with you, girl!

Jeanette Levellie said...

I do not like zoos for this reason. I feel sorry for the animals, even though I know some of them would not have survived in the wild otherwise. But to cage them seems cruel.

In Heaven, we'll live side by side with no fear of each other.

Karen said...

Jeanette, that is always a thrilling thought to me, that all hurting both by human and animal will be over.

Thanks all, for the kudos on the photos. Hubbie got me a new camera for Christmas, so expect more-ready or not! :P

Anonymous said...

Karen, I enjoyed looking at your Tiger photos :-)
Tigers are magnificent animals!

God bless you and have a great week :-)

~Ron

BTW, I also agree with Jeanette