“It is only prudent never to place complete confidence in that
by which we have even once been deceived.”
― René Descartes
(a gull catches a fish that proves a bit too large, prompting the other gulls to come steal his catch/
Santa Rosa Beach, Fl / Julie Cook / 2016)
When I was younger, my mother would always warn, “don’t let your eyes fool you”…
Meaning, as well as being very similar to the notion of not biting off more than you can chew…
that our eyes may deceive us—that just because we see it, doesn’t always mean we need it…
or even particularly want it…
This admonishment would often come when we would visit
a buffet style type of restaurant or reception…
As I would spy all those wonderfully prepared dishes…
just sitting there…simmering, succulent, steaming and savory…
practically begging for me to stop and partake…
The enticing scents wafting toward my hungry nose and eyes, drawing me ever closer…
I would politely ask for a little of this and a little of that…
dish after dish after dish—
with mother knowing all too well that as my plate grew, my stomach would not…
I’d eat maybe half of it and lament that I was suddenly too full to finish…
In turn being shamefully wasteful, as I was overcome by merely hungry eyes,
a hunger of vision verses true hunger and need of body….
In this land of the plenty, we tend to see things a bit skewed..
Always larger than life,
with all things being shiny,
wonderful,
and alluring
Prompting us to want to quickly snatch things right up…right then and there,
all before anyone else can get their hands on it…
Whatever ‘it’ may be…
Which in turn can often get us into some sort of trouble…
Remember… more often than not…
our eyes, and even our insatiable appetites, are more often then not,
bigger than our needs or wants…
do not be deceived by the hype, the glitz, the beguiling scents and sights…
Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—
his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2
cookiecrumbstoliveby 
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Excellent post and photos illustrate beautifully! Thank you for sharing the visual and renewing!
thank you Denise 🙂
I love the photos as well.
I thought about you all weekend—I saw this young guy…a young husband and father—I’d say barely 30 if that—thin, nice looking boy—with a very distinct tattoo on his left back shoulder blade—Yoda….go figure—who tattoos Yoda on their back??? Who tattoos Yoda anywhere, but then again, that gets into my whole notion of who tattoos anything but I digress 😉
You ate sooooo funny😍
😛🙃
The Scripture from Romans is so appropriate for your reflection. We are called to a higher standard and at times that is very difficult but God will give us the strength and the will to follow the way of Christ. Thanks Julie. Prayers for your day!
Thank you Lynda—seagulls are great examples of being a bit big eyed when it comes to their food 🙂
Oh we live in a culture of there is never enough sadly. And it has gotten so way out of hand that it is heartsickening. Wonderful post as usual! 🙂 ❤