CREATION SPEAKS: When we look, we fail to see...

William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall." I Kings 4

Swallowtail Butterfly on Wildflowers in Monroe Georgia

Tuesday, 9:17 AM - I am constantly looking for wildlife to photograph. My camera accompanies me everywhere: on hikes, walks, and even at the ready in the passenger seat of my vehicle each day. But how often, because I am always looking for wildlife, do I fail to see other wonders of creation around me?  

Animals are unpredictable; I never know when I’ll capture (or miss) a great shot. But the majority of the time, nothing is encountered when I’m out looking for wildlife. Like the deer hunter who trudged into the woods at 4 AM only to come home without ever firing a shot, the wildlife photographer can also feel frustration spending hours in the field without a single photograph to show for it.

Bees on Wildflowers in Monroe Georgia

This morning was no different as far as the wildlife was concerned: I didn’t find anything I was looking for. But, something was different this morning. I didn’t find that for which I was looking; but I saw. I saw different subjects; equally beautiful subjects.

I’m not a bug or flower photographer. I’ve walked past wildflowers on many occasions without notice. That’s not what I’m looking for. But this time, they caught my attention. Rather than looking, I saw; and some beautiful images were captured.
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So instead of going out looking for something in particular, I’ll go out and see what is there. Let the beauty come to me. Stop looking and see! ​

Helenium yellow wildflower garden meadow

​The religious leaders of Jesus’ day failed to see their Savior because they were looking for something else. They eagerly anticipated a leader that would bring political independence and freedom from Rome’s oppression. They were looking for a Messiah with a scepter; and therefore they failed to see a servant-messiah ‘meek and lowly in heart’ (a self-description of Jesus, Matthew 11:29).  
 
Looking is active; we usually only find that which we seek. Seeing is passive; we are brought to discover what we would normally miss because of our biased expectations. When we look with preconceived expectations, we fail to see. How many have failed to see Jesus because they were looking for something else? The evidence for our Creator and Savior is everywhere. Can you see it? Or are you looking for something else?  

Day Lily Wildflowers in Monroe Georgia

Wildflower Grass Seed Head in Monroe Georgia

Yellow Pond Wildflowers in Monroe Georgia

Pond Sage Grass Wildflowers in Monroe Georgia