Thursday, 30 July 2009

The Unexpected Beauty

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek


Photos the copyright of Maggie May.

Not long ago, I was walking along a very dismal path. To my right, there was a car park with a dividing chain linked fence. To my left were ugly buildings spattered with graffiti. I had to walk through this stretch in order to get to the much better place that I was visiting.

I suddenly spied a stretch of wild poppies that had seeded themselves all along the chain link fence. They seemed hardly noticeable at first but when I looked down and zoomed my camera into their midst, I suddenly realized that nestled amongst this ugliness, these poppies provided some real beauty.

Life is like that. Good things are always nestling against bad things and sometimes you really have to search hard for the beauty in a situation. It is always there though if you look hard enough.



Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his spendour was dressed like one of these. Luke 12 v 27. NIV


Photostory Friday is hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek. Look them up for some great pictures that tell a story.
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28 comments:

  1. Emily30 July 2009 at 23:21

    Beautiful. It is surprising where you'll find beauty.

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  2. latree30 July 2009 at 23:45

    nice shot. I also find some wild beauties around. including, ahem, Dandelion :D

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  3. Nessa31 July 2009 at 00:15

    Don't you just love these kinds of surprises. Beautiful.

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  4. Rosaria Williams31 July 2009 at 01:28

    Wiser words have not been spoken lately. Lovely pictures.

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  5. Chris31 July 2009 at 02:02

    Here here!

    I whole heartedly subscribe to your premise. Beauty is everywhere!

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  6. Wendy31 July 2009 at 03:06

    Awwww - what a nice post! Those poppies certainly do bring beauty to a dreary spot. And thank you for the reminder - to look for beauty in unlikely places. I needed that!

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  7. Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander31 July 2009 at 04:25

    beautiful poppies and an oh so true post. You can always find the good in everything. :)

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  8. Jeni31 July 2009 at 05:18

    Maggie - I think this post is one that you should put up with Shelley Tucker's (The Eclectic Life)meme every Friday called "Only The Good Friday" where we are supposed to take anything and everything and put a positive spin to it -even though at times, it may take some work to do that. But this piece, your words and those beautiful poppies sure to show how there is beauty -i.e. good -if you look for it, in everything!
    Loved this post and especially the pics!

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  9. Carrie and Troy Keiser31 July 2009 at 07:05

    beautiful! I agree 100%!

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  10. Strawberry Jam Anne31 July 2009 at 07:07

    Beautiful flowers Maggie - I do love poppies. You are right that you can usually find something good amongst the bad or ugly. Think of all the poppies on Flanders fields. A x

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  11. Irene31 July 2009 at 08:23

    You're right, Maggie, we just need to get our heads out of the pothole to see the hidden beauty, Sometimes we're not susceptible to it.

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  12. Mickle in NZ31 July 2009 at 11:03

    What a lovely "find", poppies look so delicate yet are such resilient plants.

    And thanks for the reminder - I have two packets of Iceland poppy seeds to sow come Spring.

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  13. Rose31 July 2009 at 14:05

    What an inspiring post to start my day! Beautiful shots, and beautifully said, Maggie May.

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  14. kayerj31 July 2009 at 17:00

    lovely post, the reminder gives me a nice start to the day. Here’s my photo story. happy Friday!

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  15. Anonymous31 July 2009 at 21:47

    I totally agree! Beauty is all around if we just stop to see it!

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  16. SandyCarlson31 July 2009 at 22:03

    I love when that happens, my friend. It's both exciting and encouraging.

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  17. Mean Mom31 July 2009 at 23:28

    I love poppies and you were lucky to come across these. I sometimes scatter a packet of poppy seeds in my garden and it's great to see them coming up in surprising places.

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  18. Eddie31 July 2009 at 23:48

    Are they liiliies or are they poppies I wonder - nice shots and I like the caption ~ Eddie

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  19. rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com1 August 2009 at 01:25

    Oh Maggie...I love this post: the photos, the analogy, the psalm. Beautiful. All of it.

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  20. Hilary1 August 2009 at 04:31

    Thanks for the colourful reminder that beauty lurks in all dark places.

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  21. Valerie1 August 2009 at 16:49

    Lovely pictures. I have a passion for the wild flowers that gather in cracks and crevices ... and thrive. Proof that flowers will grow without the help of humans.

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  22. Brian Miller1 August 2009 at 17:36

    great post. its amazing how two people can walk down the same street and have two wildly various experiences. many would never have seen the hidden beauty.

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  23. Unseen India Tours2 August 2009 at 09:41

    HI maggie !! This is simply beautiful and lovely..Unseen Rajasthan

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  24. ethan3 April 2012 at 09:58

    What a wonderful post, thanks so much for sharing!

    Ethan
    floral canvas print

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  25. Arthur2 May 2012 at 13:00

    Oh lovely pictures, them poppies are big, bright and red the best kind!

    Arthur
    abstract canvas

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  26. Jay8 May 2012 at 15:42

    Great post, thank you for sharing! I think cheap canvas art goes well with nuts!

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  27. Mohka.co.uk15 May 2012 at 15:43

    Really awesome post, who doesn't love nuts in May?
    http://www.mohka.co.uk/

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  28. Roger16 May 2012 at 12:26

    Love pictures, very unexpected!
    5 panel canvas

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