Trip Report: Shenandoah Sunset

The light was looking pretty good. That's what I was thinking as we cruised along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park the other night looking for a sunset.

The weather had been promising a couple of days prior. But I hesitated and opted to wait for another day. So, it would be the last opportunity to venture into the park before my upcoming trip to Montana. I wanted to make it count.

A particular location I know of seemed a good option. I had scouted a couple of shots in the past, one directly westward facing, the other to the north. Surely it could work. But as we drove through the park and the light changed, the decision became less clear. I've talked about decision making and photography before; it can be a challenge.

Pulling off at an overlook, I noticed a plethora of wildflowers and a great view facing south. The light was beginning to break through the clearing storm clouds. A cloud began to roll in, covering the landscape.

But I opted to stick to my guns and head back to my planned location.

Arriving at the trailhead, I ran up the first steep section to make up some ground and time. It's not too long of a hike, but I wanted to make sure I got up to the summit with plenty of time to shoot.

But when I got to the top, it was evident that much of the cloud cover had moved east. My westward view wasn't going to be as epic as I’d hoped.

Then I heard voices; a group of teenagers made it to the top, so I wasn't alone. In hindsight, I probably should have been more sociable, especially as a Christian. Gospel conversations don't always just happen. But I stayed pretty focused on (my) task.

Looking to the west, I saw a storm building directly beneath the setting sun. I knew that there would be no spectacular sunset tonight; the sun would be covered as it approached the horizon.

Still, I worked the scene the best I could.

It seems so much of photography, and life for that matter, is just doing the best you can with what you're given. Rarely do ideal circumstances come about. It is a hard lesson, and knowing the line between being self-reliant and not doing enough is something I have not figured out.

So, much regret can come about. Should I have taken that time to talk to those teens, to offer them something of eternal value? However, it could also have just been a fruitless and awkward conversation.

Or was it right to focus on doing the best I could to capture something of the beauty of God's creation, even if the conditions weren't ideal?

The point is, decisions and doing the best we can with them sometimes don't match our expectations.

We oftentimes are caught up in our own plans. We can miss out on the greater option, even if all the options are good.

I realize I’m not offering any solution to the problem. Scripture, of course, gives us wisdom on the matter.

“Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.” - Psalm 86:11

And also,

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” - Romans 12:1-2

In short, we rely on God and His word to renew our minds, our thinking, our hearts; and in turn, by the Spirit, we walk as best we can in His will.