One of the things I enjoy about my method of finding objects to photograph is the how I never know what I will find.  I can almost hear Forest Gump describing my photography, “Rick’s photos are like a box of chocolates, you just never know what you are going to get”.  And so it was Saturday when I found myself near Leesburg, Alabama.  I was seeking the road less traveled and attempting to get lost on purpose when I knew I had found the place to pull off the road and walk around awhile.

                There was an old sign marking the spot of an old land field and a gate that prevented you from driving into that area.  There were other signs on the trees proclaiming, No Dumping, No Hunting and No Trespassing.  So what did I do?  I parked and looked around a while.  Rest assured I did not break any laws (Technically) and no photographers were harmed (Physically) during filming; but some of the things I saw still haunt me.  First of all, nobody apparently took the time to read the signs declaring, No Dumping, because there was plenty of stuff dumped here.  (What those things were must be told another time).

                Among the rubbish I spotted the remains of a ruined clock and a compass and next to them were these dead and dried plants standing as monuments to an area that had been forgotten.  I began to wonder about the future of this place and imagined, if this place could speak, what it would tell us.  Perhaps its story would focus on the past, back before people had made this place a dump.  Or maybe it would tell of a dream of its future; to a time when people would not be scared to walk here.

                Then my mind began to wander to my own life.  There have been times in my life when I have felt like this dump; filled with shameful things like rubbish, haunted by the past and afraid of the future.  Then one day, I realized that the past cannot be changed, but the future can be different.  We can change the future.  We can stop the pain of our past.  We can choose to do things like forgive; and realize that when we forgive we in no way change the past—but we sure do change the future.  We do not have to be slaves to our past.  We can break the chains that hold us down any time we chose to.  Change is a choice.

Something to think about:

• We achieve inner health only through forgiveness—the forgiveness not only of others but also of ourselves.

• Life lived without forgiveness becomes a prison.

• Every experience the Master gives us, every person he puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only he can see.

• Faith makes the shame of the past and the discords of the present the harmonies of the future.

• Do not look back on happiness or dream of it in the future. You are only sure of today; do not let yourself be cheated out of it.

• The past cannot be changed; the future is still in your power.

• Right actions for the future are the best apologies for wrong ones in the past.

• Because he lives I can face tomorrow,

• Because he lives all fear is gone.
  Because I know he holds the future,
  And life is worth the living,
  Just because he lives.

From the guy reminding you that you do have a bright future
Rickey Moore
To see Moore photos from the future visit www.rlmoore.com