5 | Fifty-Two

Muse - [myooz] : noun 1. a guiding spirit 2. a source of inspiration

verb 1. to meditate on 2. to gaze meditatively or wonderingly

I must admit that at first I was intimidated by this week's theme.  Muse?  How in the world can I capture that in a photograph?  What would that encompass?  There are lots of things that inspire me, motivate me, move me.

I've also been working on another, totally unrelated, project that has been causing me to view things in new ways.  It's been fun to be creative with my photography in a way that is not about people and faces and human connections. When I downloaded the latest shots for that project, I immediately knew that I had my perfect shot for this project's theme.

Now I'm just ashamed to admit that it wasn't my first thought. It should always be my first thought.  My filter.  The gold-standard.  The thing with which I measure all other things.

The Cross.

Exposure: 1/2500 sec. Aperture: f/3.2 ISO: 800 Focal Length: 50mm.

I can't help but think of the Chris Tomlin song "The Wonderful Cross"!

When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet Sorrow and love flow mingled down Did ever such love and sorrow meet Or thorns compose so rich a crown

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross All who gather here by grace draw near and bless Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine That were an offering far too small Love so amazing, so divine Demands my soul, my life, my all