The Weekly Spark: Original Photography & Reflections

There's no reason I should've seen him. He was the size of a quarter, a baby frog sitting on ninety-degree black asphalt, blending right in. I saw him out of the corner of my eye.

NEW! Sharing both color and black & white photos.

This week’s Spark takes a more reflective tone than previous posts. Last Thursday, I was shocked to learn of the sudden and tragic passing of NASCAR driver Kyle Busch—a fierce competitor and champion in the racing world. He was just 41, leaving behind a wife and two young children, ages 11 and 4.

I usually share photos only in black and white. Color can be a distraction; it tells your brain what to focus on before you truly notice the details. In black and white, you have to slow down and look past the surface to see, for example, the frog blending into the background.
​
So why am I including both photos today?

At Kathryn Albertson Park in Boise, the turtles in the image below show that dry ground is limited. There is only so much space to go around.

The world is noisy and usually overflowing. It’s easy to feel underwater when the workload doesn't stop. But the rock doesn't grow to fit the chaos. Energy and time are fixed. Instead of trying to do everything, the goal is to occupy the space that actually matters.

The Rhythmic Pursuit
​A woodpecker doesn’t find what it’s looking for with one lucky peck. It is a series of small, intentional efforts that eventually lead to the reward. It isn't trying to change the whole tree—it is just focused on its purpose through steady, rhythmic action.

In a world that often demands "instant" results, the woodpecker is a masterclass in the long game. It understands that the breakthrough lies in repetition.

I came across this sign in the quiet and beautiful stretches of Oregon during the first state of my bike ride across America. "Journey Through Time" is a massive concept for a roadside marker, but it perfectly captures how we move through the world. We aren’t just traveling across a physical landscape; we are navigating the deep layers of history, one moment at a time.

The air in Idaho has a specific kind of stillness, especially when you’re out on the water. Years ago, while fishing with my son, one of those quiet moments was captured perfectly.
​
Truth be told, he always did much more of the actual fishing than I did. I was often content to just be there, camera in hand, watching the rhythm of the cast and the water. Because of that, I was fortunate enough to be ready when this dragonfly decided that the very tip of his fishing pole was the best seat in the house.

The Chukar Partridge is a fixture of the Idaho landscape, often seen navigating rocky terrain with a steady, grounded persistence. There is a quiet confidence in the way this bird surveys its surroundings, standing firm on its own patch of ground without needing to follow anyone else’s trail.

This sense of individual purpose is the heartbeat of finding meaning in the journey. Whether you are navigating a steep incline or enjoying a moment of stillness, there is deep value in owning your unique pace and path.

Focus on Progress, Not Perfection
As the final days of 2025 wind down, the air usually fills with talk of "fresh starts" and "new versions" of ourselves. With December 29th falling on a Monday this year, it feels like the perfect moment to pause and consider how we approach the coming year.