Diario de williamwisephoto

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was." James 1:23-24

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 20529373 - Tufted Titmouse; Athens-Clarke County, Georgia. February 5, 2017.

Every Sunday morning for the last few months during the morning church service, a feisty little Tufted Titmouse flies up to the window during the preaching and repeatedly attacks his reflection. He believes the image to be a rival interloper invading his territory. Because the bird doesn’t like what he sees, he decides to fight the reflection.

​While I watched this aggravated avian, my pastor continued to preach from the book of James. In the letter, James describes the Word of God as a mirror that reflects what manner of men we are. We have our own self-image, but it is often very different than how others perceive us. And certainly, our image of ourselves is always quite different than how God sees us. But the Bible has a way of revealing who we really are; a true reflection, as in a mirror.

Often, as the mirror's image comes into clear focus, we don’t like the image that we see, and like the Titmouse, we fight against that reflection. ​When the mirror of the Word reflects our true, impatient self (James 1:4), we fight against the reflection and declare ourselves to have “the patience of Job.” When the mirror reflects our poor decisions and “lack of wisdom” (James 1:5), we fight the reflection and declare the Bible outdated. When the mirror of the Word reflects our true, double-minded nature (James 1:8), we fight the reflection and posit our focused faithfulness to God alone. When the mirror of the Word reflects our own sinful nature as the fault of our falling to temptation (James 1:13), we fight the reflection declaring “this is how God created me.” When the mirror of the Word of God reflects our hot temper (James 1:19), we fight the reflection, take up a rock and smash the mirror!

When we see our true reflection in the mirror of the Word of God, let us not fight against it as the church Titmouse. Let us not walk away and “forget what manner of men we are.” But let us be doers of the Word, and as Today’s English Version translates, let us “submit to God and accept the Word that He plants in our hearts” (James 1:21 TEV). Another lesson learned if we will listen to what creation speaks!

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 20529373 - Tufted Titmouse; Athens-Clarke County, Georgia. February 5, 2017.

I know for some of my Northern neighbors this is no big deal, but here in Georgia a blanket of snow doesn't happen often and we get quite excited about it! This is an entry from my nature photography journal exactly thirteen years ago today...

© Photographer: William Wise | Snow in Georgia; Athens- County, Georgia. February 13, 2010.

9:27 AM - I woke earlier this morning to find that the flurries that began yesterday evening didn't melt away like they usually do. In fact, the snowfall continued into the night and a light blanket of snow hung on through the night to leave an inch thick coating of wet, clinging snow all around us. We had a beautiful white landscape that isn't often seen in our southern climes. But the day quickly warmed and our winter wonderland was almost all gone by evening. Oh well. Maybe we'll have another next year.

© Photographer: William Wise | Snow in Georgia; Athens- County, Georgia. February 13, 2010.

February 14, 2018 nature journal entry...

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 66741134 - Canada Goose; Walton County, Georgia. February 14, 2018.

Wednesday, 2:45 PM – it looks like the last Redhead duck has left at last. The lone male that has remained the last few days was nowhere to be seen this morning or afternoon. However, a pair of Canada Geese have been back on the pond the last few days. Each year we get at least one pair to nest and raise young on the water retention pond. I wonder if these are the same pair that had goslings on our pond in seasons past?

• ​Walton County, Georgia
• Mostly cloudy, gray skies, 63°
• Sunrise 7:19 AM; sunset 6:16 PM
• Day length: 10 hours, 57 minutes
• Moon: waning crescent, 1% illumination

Vogel State Park is located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest in North Georgia. The following is from my nature photography journal on February 18, 2013...

© Photographer: William Wise | - Mountain Stream in Vogel State Park; Union County, Georgia. February 18, 2013.

A crisp breeze moves through the pines. The continuous climb of the stream-side trail elicits some heavy breathing which can be seen in the chilled air, cleansing the lungs. An array of crystal spikes hang inverted from the fallen trees that straddle the waterfall and drip shimmering, crystal drops. What a beautiful day for a hike! What a beautiful place to do it!

Vogel State Park is located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest in North Georgia. It is one of my favorites as it embodies that Appalachian Mountain beauty. The well-laid trails are perfect for even young hikers like my daughters. As we learned at an interpretive lesson that evening at the park headquarters, much of the park was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. Those were tough depression days, but they spared no gift in laying out this park.
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After several hours, we make it to the peak of Bear Hair Gap Trail. An overlook through the trees reveals Lake Trahlyta far below. At 2,500 feet elevation it is one of Georgia's highest altitude state parks. My desire was to backpack the Coosa Backcountry Trail, which leads to the Appalachian Trail near Neel Gap, but my girls are still far too young. But still, this day hike is quite fulfilling, soaking in the mountain landscapes.

© Photographer: William Wise | - Mountain Stream in Vogel State Park; Union County, Georgia. February 18, 2013.

I’m privileged that I could donate one of my photographs to support the cause to protect the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. A full page advertisement was purchased by the Okefenokee Protection Alliance using a photograph I took on the eastern end of Billy’s Lake in the Okefenokee on March 13, 2019. The ad was placed in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution on February 18, 2023. Go to https://protectokefenokee.org/ for more information and to support the Okefenokee NWR!