Photo For Encouragement

We all have those moments of feeling down, scared, stressed, and depressed. Sometimes they flood us in waves and we feel as if the bad luck never ends. That’s when we need something to encourage us the most. It could be words from family or a friend, a prayer, or even an uplifting photo! This photo I took has turned out to have more meaning then I ever imagined. Not just meaning for me, but for everyone! It’s turned into a “Photo for Encouragement”.

One day I was taking a hike with my family at Ha Ha Tonka State park in Camdenton Missouri. It was a beautiful Spring day in the Ozarks. We came across this fence. Being a photographer I knew I had to capture it. At the time, I knew it was special, but the more and more I look at the photo, the more I see. It’s like looking at reality! There are so many ways you can look at this unique photo.

On one side of the fence (right) is a beautiful natural blue/green spring and on the other side (left) it opens up into a large lake (the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks). The 2 sides can represent life choices. The Spring side is calm, stable, safe, constant and comfort. The large lake is big and full of endless possibilities and risks. Many of us prefer to stay on the calm side of things and fear change. The sign on the fence says “No Access To The Water Beyond This Point”! Often times we don’t want unexpected change entering into our comfortable lives. Change could mean loosing a job, losing someone we love, financial troubles, having to move, etc. When that change comes, we find ourselves sitting on the fence trying to figure out which direction to take. Only you can answer that question. You just have to get off the fence and choose a side. Still afraid to make that move? Pray for guidance! Sometimes the answer we get is not the choice we would have made, but the good Lord knows the best path for us to take! Part of this fence wants to go one direction, but the other is still hanging on. It’s time you take the path that is meant for you!

The fence has a constant flow of water running through it. A lot like our lives. Tough decisions, stress, sadness, pain, heartache, all run through our lives. But the good news is, it runs through and then goes away. Yes, you can be assured that more hard times will come, but, it will go away. We may still experience the pain, but we learn to get through it. We learn from the lesson it taught us. With each passing challenge, we become stronger! Take a look at this fence. Even though it’s aged, weakened and broken, it has remained strong and is holding everything together! This can be an encouraging photo through those rough times. That’s one amazing and strong fence. Just like you! Hang in there and you’ll get through it! The storm can’t last forever.

Jennifer White
Timeless Moments Photography