"Cause we gotta have faith..." Thank you George Michael

Today I'm choosing to do this post first, because it's a "positive," when I'm in the "negative." The post that follows this one will be my ode to all that has been negative these past few days, and perhaps in writing it, I will find some answers. Hmmm, we shall see!

So, here it is. I am doing the Thematic Photographic # 193 - Faith, from Carmi's blog http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2012/04/thematic-photographic-193-faith.html.

For me, these are the things that confirm there is something out there that keeps this world spinning. Unfortunately it spins out of control... but, it spins nonetheless. Get ready... there are many pictures!!

Some people find faith, confirm their faith, in church.  If any church building itself could confirm faith, it's this one. It once sat near/beneath the Twin Towers... the church is still there. 

New Orleans... in the heart of the city

The Crystal Cathedral in California is an amazing building

Can you imagine singing in the choir at the Crystal Cathedral? This choir space sits high above the congregation.

Being raised Catholic, I have been spoiled with beautiful churches. I can just imagine taking communion in this Catholic church in New York. Beautiful... you're always looking up.

I love stained glass windows... I remember it being rainy on this day, yet it still looks like the sun is shining through.

Now for my own confirmation... the places/things, that reassure me, when at times, I flounder. 

 First the sunsets... anyone who really knows me, knows how much I love them. Even though a camera can never really capture the beauty seen with the human eye, I still take pictures. I am so happy I do too... one is never like the other.

This one is from the bedroom balcony of our old home. Miss my trees!

From the back porch of our home now.

This is one of my favorites

Smooth waters on this evening

From the hilltop in our neighborhood. I needed a different view ;)

Red sun setting... during the major dust storms, this is what a Texas sunset looks like

The sun has set, but is still spreading its glow

 The world is an amazing place to be, if you just look around... you'll see. These next few pictures represent the things that, try as we might, we as humans, could never replicate. There are too many naturally occurring, perfect imperfections.

I loved being in the bedroom of our old house. It was the only upstairs room, and when you opened all of the blinds, you felt like you were in a tree house. I watched the leaves change from deep green, to bright reds, and orange, before finally turning brown and falling to the ground. Although, a few hung on all winter.

The Grand Canyon... absolutely amazing. 

Another view... There were SO many different colors... again, impossible to replicate .

A field of flowers in Big Sur

If I could build a home in Big Sur, it would be right there on the cliffs

Isn't he beautiful?

The fog rolling in... San Fran foothills

A small river in Big Sur

A lone horseman in the foothills

Our own backyard... the end of a sunset

Pismo California... trusting bird.

So detailed... our own backyard

We must have an appreciation of the little things... even the weeds.

One of our backyard friends. 

I love Pismo Beach, California... so many things to explore

The very things we treasure, we also destroy...

The oil spill in the gulf has left a lasting impression on the beaches

The course of time, lack of care, and hurricanes helped contribute to destruction 

BUT, the biggest contribution to the destruction of  all things, comes from us. We destroy the earth, and we destroy each other. Sadly this represents an act committed in faith (twisted as it often is, in order to make a religion fit our agenda), to shake the faith of others.

Sometimes the storms roll in, and we're forced to face the fact that we are indeed vulnerable to the things we love....

I felt like it could swallow us

I love the clouds, but they sure can make an ominous picture!

Ahh, just a little lightning here

More ominous clouds with the end of a sunset

Oh yes, we get to see some major lightning out here

Vulnerable... 

One of the few snow storms we've had. This was the back yard of our previous home

Through all of this... we survive, we find hope, and we continue to have faith... because if the smallest things can survive, then we can too, right?

Hope...

If she (he?) can survive the spills

If he (she?) can survive the hurricanes

If this rose can survive the tornadoes

If the berries can survive the snow

Then we have hope

We have faith

We need to have faith in order to survive (I would give anything to be here at this moment!)

Whether your faith lies here (My friend JUST posted this on FB and I had to use it... it was perfect timing!)

Or here... this is an amazing picture. The storms were rolling in pretty fast, and this boat was making it's way in. The wife was standing outside taking pictures of lightning, and decided to take a picture of this boat. Do you see the image... bigger than anyone who could have been sailing it. I do believe these people had a little faith and help!

Okay... that's it for me... it took me hours because the pictures weren't downloading right, but I needed the break from all of the stuff going on around me. I'll have to do my other post later this evening. I now have to get out there and take care of the things that have me so discombobulated... which you will of course hear (read) about in the upcoming post! Woohoo, right? Hey, you may just have some valuable advice.