When we pay attention, truly pay attention to life as it is presented to us, our hearts can be answered and desire born.

I live in the middle of nowhere.  The county I live in has ONE stoplight, that’s right, ONE stoplight in the entire county, and I live 20 miles from that ONE stoplight.  At night, when it gets dark, it gets really dark.  If it is cloudy and I turn off the lights in our house and the couple across the lake isn’t up at their cabin, I can be in total darkness.  But when it is not cloudy, I see stars.  More stars than you can imagine.

Have you ever seen the stars like that?  If not, go tonight, into the countryside where there are no other lights and look with an open heart.  It is truly astonishing, truly beautiful.  When I see beauty like that a longing wells up in my heart, the kind of longing that almost makes me cry until I can barely swallow the tears that are welling up.  What am I longing for?  More stars?  To be closer to the stars?  There must be something more, some ultimate Beauty.  

I see that in people too.  When people truly love each other their love radiates that Something else.  Their love points me to some ultimate Beauty that my heart longs for…

I met Kate and Travis at my studio.  I’d never met them before, so I didn’t know what to expect, which is always the best way to meet somebody, without expectations.  Then you can begin to truly see the person, when you look without expectations.  

We made an audio recording of their relationship story, went out and shot around downtown Brainerd then headed out to play in the snow.  It was pretty uneventful really, pretty much like every engagement session I shoot.  

This morning I am editing their images and remembering my encounter with this couple and when I pay attention, every single couple I meet is special, their relationship is a gift and I am privileged to be able to meet them.  Look through these images, but don’t see pictures, see people, two real people who love each other.  That’s my goal, to show you two real people in love.

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And we have to end with…

Travis and Kate, thanks.

Tim