Like us, trees thrive in community.   Their roots go deep and grow to be intertwined with one another, this helps to anchor and support them, and can often be what holds them safely in the ground during erosion, strong winds, or other storms.

Thriving In The CragA lone tree grows from the side of a craggy outcropping. The sun is setting and the red rocks that house the roots, are almost glowing. A clearing storm leaves residual clouds and God rays shine towards the little tree, which is by itself, but never alone. <br/><br/>It always amazes me how trees can anchor themselves on the edge of such seemingly brittle sandstone cliffs. It is open to the elements, yet it grows and thrives exactly where it is planted.<br/><br/>We can also grow and thrive if we root ourselves in the Rock of Christ. Even though we were made for community, if we put our roots deep in Jesus, we will be able to weather any storm.<br/><br/>This piece is a composite of three images, combined with some painterly effects. The original tree lives on the edge of Bell Rock in Sedona, Arizona.

Every now and then, however, we come across a tree that is thriving in a solitary space, seemingly alone in the world.  That is the case with this tree that can be found on the side of Bell Rock in Sedona, Arizona.

I came across this lone tree while I was helping chaperone a field trip for a group of photography students from the high school where my husband teaches, thank you Heather, for letting me tag along!   It grows from the side of a craggy, outcropping.  It always amazes me how trees can anchor themselves on the edge of such seemingly brittle sandstone cliffs. It is open to the elements, yet it grows and thrives exactly where it is planted.

We can also grow and thrive if we root ourselves in the Rock of Christ. Even though we were made for community, if we put our roots deep in Jesus, we will be able to weather any storm, even if we are the only one, seemingly alone, in the midst of the chaos.  Jesus is our anchor.

This piece is actually a composite of three images, combined with some painterly effects. This is the original image, there wasn't a cloud to be seen behind the tree that day!

LoneTreeOnBellRockA lone tree grows out of the side of Bell Rock in Sedona, Arizona. It always amazes me how trees can anchor themselves on the edge of such seemingly brittle sandstone cliffs. It is open to the elements, yet it grows and thrives exactly where it is planted.

We can also grow and thrive if we root ourselves in the Rock of Christ. Even though we were made for community, if we put our roots deep in Jesus, we will be able to weather any storm.

Lone Tree on Bell Rock

In keeping with my maternal grandfather's saying, "Never ruin a good story by failing to exaggerate" (or good image, in my case), I've added some elements from the following two images that were taken during a sunrise in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

CapeHatterasGlowingPurpleSunriseThe sun rises over a beach in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The cloudy sky is aglow in shades of purple, pink, orange, and yellow. The brightness of the sun peeks through an opening in the clouds and it's warm, orange light reflects on the sand and water, causing it to almost light up. A small wave breaks on the beach and what would be white foam is colored purple from the reflecting cotton candy clouds above.

Such a breathtaking sight is this dawn painted by God. Thoughts of a storm seem to be getting chased away by the warm light that is breaking through the clouds. Hope is on the horizon.

Cape Hatteras Glowing Purple Sunrise

SingleSeagullFliesOutToSeaGodRaysA single seagull soars out to sea, towards God rays streaming through the clouds during sunrise. The location is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in the summertime.

There is such a peaceful feeling to this image, the seagull seems to float in the air, past the dunes, over the calm sea. It has no worries as it flies towards the light of God. When we keep our focus on our Creator, and our eyes on His light, we are taken care of, even if storms do arise, His hand is on us and He makes our ways straight.
Single Seagull Flies Out to Sea Towards Godrays

In the final image, the sun appears to be setting, and the red rocks that house the roots, are almost glowing. A clearing storm leaves residual clouds and God rays shine towards the little tree, which is by itself, but never alone.


Prints and products (including puzzles and phone cases) from all the original images, as well as the final composite, may be purchased here:  https://inthelight.pixels.com/
The original and final images are in the Southwest gallery and the Beach images are in the North Carolina gallery.