LR January Fog 0043

Prisoner of Hope

I confess. I shot today's picture before I had a caption. We are experiencing a January thaw which is not unusual. When this happens a lot of fog is generated on the lake which has a unique feeling and beauty and at times everything merges into a background of white. The title is taken from the title of our pastor's sermon today. The phrase comes from Zechariah 9:12. Leaving aside the religious interpretation, the phrase for me was an interesting and positive juxtaposition of words. Having taken this image before church, I almost immediately made a connection. Regardless of the source of your hope, I think this phrase implies that to truly have hope you must become its prisoner - you cannot escape from true hope. Living in a cold and snowy climate, I am always amazed at the miracle of life that springs forth each year after the snow and cold has left. This image is of Claire's garden with the dried remnants of her ornamental grass and spirea. And each year we have hope that these and the other plants will re-emerge in the Spring. We are prisoners to that hope and the hope is fulfilled. Nikkor 18-200mm@36mm, f8, 1/640 sec.