Arctic Vortex

The arctic vortex moved south and brought extreme cold to much of the United States earlier this week.

Pictured above is a chunk of ice on a stretch of open water in the Mississippi River.  It was about 18 degrees below zero at the time of the shooting of this photograph.

Pillsbury mill ruins

While exploring the Mississippi River, at 18 below zero, I found remnants of the old Pillsbury ruins to be of interest.

Goose down at 18 below zero

I felt somewhat self-conscious about taking this picture of the geese sitting on the ice at the Mississippi River, while enjoying my warm down jacket.  Thankfully the geese didn't ask to see the content label of the jacket, otherwise they may not have sat so lovely for the photo shoot.

Frosty Beauty

Subzero temperatures created hoar frost on leaves, twigs and grasses on, and alongside the pond at Bassett Creek Park.

If at first you don't succeed...

It was 32 years ago that I had an "epic failure" in my debut a public speaker.  I was asked, along with another classmate of mine, to provide a chapel talk at our alma matter regarding our experiences as youth ministers.  My friend insisted we not use notes, and simply speak from the heart.

Well, as we got midway though the presentation, I grew increasingly uncomfortable with our unscripted presentation, and as I looked out on an audience of former coaches, professors and students I fainted.  The next thing I knew I saw a gathering of people hovering over me, wondering if I was okay.

One thought I learned in youth ministry training kept burning in the back of my mind throughout the presentation "Whenever you go unprepared, you never go along. Fear is your constant companion."

I've since made hundreds of presentations to groups large and small since that first dramatic entry into public speaking.  My current position with a food bank involves making daily presentations to groups, ranging up to 100, where not only do I provide information, I also ask for a financial donation.  Not an easy assignment!

The reason I share this reflection is to remind myself, and others, going into a New Year, that though we may have had some "epic failures" in the year gone by, we can learn from them, and be prepared for the next opportunity that comes along.  As any inventor or entrepreneur will tell us, we learn the most from our failures, about what doesn't work.  If we continue doing what didn't work in the past and expecting success we are likely to keep falling short of our goals.  So, if at first we don't succeed, regroup, prepare, and try, try, try again.

PS  If you would like to make a financial contribution to Second Harvest Heartland, a $5 gift can purchase food enough for 18 meals for people in need.

The art of photography

Exposed branches on the pond at Bassett Creek Park

A photographer friend recently shared with me the following, which I think rings true...

Painting is an art of addition. You add different colors and textures to a blank canvas and create your subject. But photography is just its opposite. In photography, the whole world is a canvas and you keep on subtracting elements until you find your subject matter. Remember this: Photography is an art of subtraction!  

Risk and reward

This past year the stock market provided an excellent example of the rewards of taking calculated risk with one's financial resources.  The Standard and Poor's 500 index ended the year up nearly 30 percent.   On the other hand, the much more traditionally safe investments of treasury notes returned less than three percent, while bonds lost two percent over the year.

While it was only recently we were reminded how the stock market can also drop dramatically, on average it outperforms other traditional investments that are considered much less risky.  Such is life, isn't it?  To receive a significant gain of any value one must take significant risks.

My biggest risks over the years also reaped the greatest gains.... leaving home for college, spending my junior year abroad, getting married and adopting our child.  All of these were great risks, and brought me well outside of my comfort zone, but also helped me to grow and a person.

While directing a mentoring program I often reminded people that the significant risk and investment required to become a mentor could also yield a great gain, not only for the child being mentored, but also the volunteer doing the mentoring. People who only want to make a brief, one shot volunteer commitment shouldn't expect the significant kinds of returns of those who make a great investment of themselves and their time.

So, as you enter the new year, what risks might you consider taking to help you grow and possibly yield a great return on your investment of your time or money?