14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5: 14-16

I've finished another piece from my Value series, this one being, as you've probably guessed, Good Works. I am so excited to have another one done! Each time I complete one of these, it's this wonderful mixture of feeling really happy and proud, as well as that feeling you get when you check another thing off your to do list (have I mentioned that I love to do lists? And most especially, checking things off of said to do lists?)

The image is actually a composite of four photographs. As always, I liked my sister, the model's, face better in one photo, the way her arm was held in another, and the flounce of her skirt in yet another. So I combined them. I had also envisioned this beautiful sunset illuminating the sky behind her, almost as if she was the sun herself.

Several months ago, I had been out at Prairie Creek Marina for an early morning family session out on the lake. I got there early, and so I parked my car at the top of the hill overlooking the lake, which happens to be one of my favorite views in NWA, and watched as the sun gradually made its way up past the horizon. As I had my camera for the family session later on, I took several photos before setting it down and enjoying the moment. I've learned that sometimes it's not so important to capture the moment on my camera, but to put it aside and really be there. I've learned how much better it is to remember the wind on your face or to truly grasp the vastness of the landscape before you than to see it all through the viewfinder of a camera and only have the printed proof that you were really there. Granted, photography is something I am very passionate about and find joy in doing, but I've learned there is also a great sense of peace that comes just from being there in the moment knowing how fleetingly it will pass. Anyway, enough with the soapbox/mushy/gushy stuff.

The explanation for this one is fairly simple. We are taught in our church from a young age that we need to be an example of everything that is good and praiseworthy about our religion to those around us. There is no better way to show people the goodness of the Gospel than by allowing the true joy we experience from being a member of His church to be plainly in sight for those not of our faith to witness. When the world is mired in the darkness deep in the low valleys of life, we need to be the shining beacon on the hill top, inspiring others to climb towards goodness, and more importantly, towards true happiness.