Gathering to Gather – Weekly Photo Challenge
“Love: a string of coincidences that gather significance and become miracles.”
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
This week Krista has asked us to illustrate the concept of “gathering” – in honor of the families and friends who will gather to celebrate the holidays in the coming days. Rather than focus on the many blessings of the season, the challenge brought to my mind an experience from our recent visit to China.
BACK TO BACK
“By plucking her petals you do not gather the beauty of the flower.”
Rabindranath Tagore
In several places we saw workers gathering to gather crops like rice and barley. In a country like China, where one of the primary resources is manpower, there is very little automation used in the fields. Rather the back-breaking labor is done by men and women alike. Children deliver water to the laborers who toil under the hot sun.
PEASANT GARB
“He who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to gather flowers.”
Henry David Thoreau
As I watched, I was reminded of a gentle dance performed by the workers’ coordinated efforts and synchronized movements. Almost always there were iconic straw hats or colorful tribal costumes to further enhance the scene.
THRASHING
“Happiness doesn’t lie in the objects we gather around us. To find it, all we need to do is open our eyes.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
One of my favorite things about travel is its ability to show us the lives of people around the world. Here in the US, for the most part crops are harvested using sophisticated machinery with minimal human intervention. Living in the south though, I’ve often thought of what it must have been like in colonial times. Crops like cotton and indigo were harvested in the intense heat of the lowcountry summers, when mosquitoes and no-see-ums were plentiful and bathing was a rare and infrequent luxury. Perhaps these scenes in China reflect some of what life must have been back then.
A TISKET A TASKET
“In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration.”
Ansel Adams
Fingers torn, back aching, skin burned by the sun….what must a day in the fields have meant to those who labored for so little return? When the long day was over, did they share the fruits of their labor with family and friends, or more likely, did they fall into an exhausted sleep knowing tomorrow would be much the same as today?
WOMAN’S WORK IS NEVER DONE
“The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.”
Thomas Paine
How fortunate are we to live in an era and in a place where food is plentiful and the work to provide it is done by others? As we enjoy our holiday meals, do we think about where they came from and whose labor went into providing them?
HAT’S OFF
“Gather the stars if you wish it so.”
Carl Sandburg
It is a mere accident of birth that we live as we do while others struggle through an entirely different existence. Let us make this holiday season one of giving – not only to our families and friends but also to strangers in need. Let us be generous, sharing the gifts we’ve been given. Give a dollar to help feed the hungry. Give an hour of your time to a child who needs help learning to read – or to a hard working immigrant trying to learn English. If nothing else, give the gift of a smile to a stranger. Who knows, it just might be exactly what he or she needs right at that moment.
Wishing you all the best of the season – may peace, love and joy fill your hearts, and generosity feed your soul.
I hope your holiday was wonderful!!!
OMG once again I just have to say that the WORDS are so incredible…just beautifully written!! I love these ‘gathering’ shots….great eye!!!!
Thanks so much April – Happy New Year to you and Gary!
Growing up in the countryside, there is not many gatherings such as those around harvest time…so a perfect interpretation of the challenge 🙂 The second photo is beautiful – the garb of the peasant, but also in that it feels like it happened right outside our backyard in the golden wheat fields. A tough and difficult life I believe these farmers in China have, but as you say when the day is over and you get together with family and friends ~ their happiness blooms.
Thanks Randall. I loved the colorful and traditional garb in the midst of the golden wheat. Although their lives are hard they seem content and are diligent in their work. I was amazed at how hard-working the people were and yet how pleasant and curious they were as well.
Wonderful photos…I really love “Hats Off” Merry Christmas to you and all the best in 2016.
Many thanks Mark – my personal favorite as well. All the best to you for 2016 as well.
As far as I’ve been able to tell, the statement that “he who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to gather flowers” is not by Thoreau.
Hi Steve – first, thanks for stopping by. I actually found several places where Thoreau is credited with the quote. Here http://gordonfoundation.ca/about-us/foundation/annual-reports/annual-report-2011-2012, here http://www.sniblit.com/Quotes-About-Attitude-2.html, and here http://xenon.stanford.edu/~rfoon/files/quotes/files/thoreau.html The full quote is ” I can alter my life by altering my attitude. He who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to gather flowers. ” I’ve not seen it anywhere credited to anyone else. Just sayin’ 😊
I also found the quotation on plenty of websites, but never with a specific source, like which essay or book or speech it’s from. In the past, when I’ve found a quotation on many websites but always with no further source than an author’s name, the attribution has almost always proved to be false. In this case, the two sentences don’t even seem to me to go together.
One way I try to authenticate a quotation is to use Google book search (books.google.com), my assumption being that something in print is more likely to be correct, especially in older books. I searched for the first sentence that way and got only eight hits, none of them mentioning Thoreau, and even the oldest going back no farther than 1962. It was in a book called Apples of Gold, and the sentence there was “I can alter my life by altering my attitude of mind.”
Interestingly, I originally found it here http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/115718-i-can-alter-my-life-by-altering-my-attitude-he . It is one of my favorite sites and the quotes are typically from books. I shall try to find the original quote. you now have me on a quest!
We are indeed lucky to live in that part of the world where food is plentiful.. And it is almost obscene that many of us complain about weight gain whilst others go to sleep with empty stomachs night after .night. Your photos are a great reminder of the spirit of the people, culture and the environment.
Thanks very much Amanda, glad these resonated for you. You’re so right about the obscenity of the delta between fortunate and not so much.
Wonderful images Tina. The second and the last particularly for me. Really outstanding photos!
Many thanks Adrian – the last is a personal favorite as well. Best to you for the NEw YEar.
Tina, as always, it was a pleasure to read your post. The photographs are beautiful as ever. I particularly liked the first one 🙂
Thanks so much Uday – and a wonderful 2016 to you and yours.
How fabulously beautiful this is Dina – thanks so much and all the best for the New Year to all of you!!
Lovely post, Tina. I left a comment here previously, and tried posting it again but it seems to disappear each time
Hopefully all fixed now Mabel!
A wonderful post for the season, full of humanism and appreciation for our lucky lot in life when so many others around the world are struggling each and every day. Thank you for this Tina. Wishing you and your family a very happy holiday season and a happy new year. Thanks for all your support and encouragement throughout the year it’s been so very much appreciated…Andrew
Thanks so much Andrew – i’ve so enjoyed following your artistic endeavors. I truly love your work and wish you an wonderful and creative 2016. All the best to you and yours!!
yes, a great post! such fresh angles and colors. thanks for sharing, especially in this wintertime. have a lovely christmas season ~
Thanks Dorothee – and all the best to you in the New Year as well.
A beautiful collection of photos Tina! Happy Holidays!
Thanks Nicole – hope your 2016 is filled with interesting adventures!
🙂
Terrific shots.
Glad you enjoyed LV! Happy New Year to you.
Inspirational and telling about these individuals lives.
Thanks Sally – good to pause and reflect on how fortunate we are, especially as a New YEar dawns.
A vibrant set of environmental portraits, Tina. Have a great holiday!
Thanks Jane – hope yours was terrific as well!
Love how you interpreted gather. Happy holidays!
Thank you Sherry – and all the best to you in 2016
The dance of synchronized movements and toiling labour is something that touched my heart. Such a pleasure to see the lives of other’s …thru your camera lenses. Thanks, again
Thanks so much Veena – there is so much to see in the wider world, isn’t there?! Happy 2016 to you.
Such a touching post, Tina. There are so many others who aren’t as well off as us, and you are right, we should lend a helping hand because we can. Not to show off our privilege through doing so, but to spread a bit of kindness around and give others opportunity, or at the very least open their eyes to the kindness and good in this world. Love the quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. It reminded me of his book The Little Prince, one of my favourite books of all time. Best wishes for the season, Tina, and take care 🙂
Thanks Mabel – one of my favorites ever as well. All the best to you in the New Year!
Great images, Tina! Great commentary, too.
Many thanks Svetlana – Hope your holidays are filled with fun and grandchildren!
Enjoyed the photos and your thoughts–the labour and energy in our food is very important to contemplate.
Thanks very much Janice, happy you enjoyed!
A really wonderful post, Tina. Love the photos and the quotes, especially the Thoreau. It reminds me of the Alphonse Carr quote, ““Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.”
Many thanks Sylvia. And thanks for adding the Carr quote, I loved it!!
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Travel in Asia certainly puts personal experiences into perspective. Great post and photos
It does indeed LRS – thanks for your visit and comment!
Lovely post. Beautiful pics and I like how they spark the deeper reflections on work and privilege & thankfulness. You made me think of recent news about the exploitation of child labour in Thailand to process prawns, which are standard fare for Christmas in Australia.
Thanks Maamej, I read that sad story as well. These days it’s hard to know where the exploitation is occurring😞 bTW, enjoyed your book bingo post! Couldn’t comment directly(long, boring story why not) but found it really interesting!
Yes, almost impossible to track everything we buy and find out if it’s ethically produced – we have to accept that I guess and just do as best we can. I’m glad you enjoyed the book bingo, it was fun to do.
A lovely gallery of your China photos and I so agree with your sentiment that those of us who have share with those who are less fortunate. I have stopped sending cards and instead have donated to a charity which helps people at this time of year.
Excellent Jude. Nice to see how many of our blogging friends are so generous. Our little BFF fund here on Kiawah is growing quite nicely. If everyone did just 1 little thing, just think what we could accomplish! All the best in the New Year!
Wonderful story and photos. My father is from the Philippines, and he often talked about how back-breaking planting- and harvesting rice was. Thanks for sharing–we take so much for granted.
Thanks for the affirmation PP, we do indeed take much for granted. But Al least just this once we gave it some attention😊
As Warren Buffet said ” If you are born in the U.S. You have already won the lottery.” Excellent photos and post.
Thanks Kathy–who knew Warren was a billionaire AND a philosopher!! Happy New a Year to you and Steve!
Lovely, heartfelt post. These photos and accompanying words remind me of our forefathers who toiled to establish the nation we sometimes take for granted. Thank you for the kind reminder that there still are wonderful global neighbors still toiling away to harvest their supplies. 🙂 Best wishes for a peaceful 2016.
Many thanks Judy. I think Peace is on everyone’s mind for the coming year. Let’s hope.
Very beautiful pictures from China! And an equally wonderful wish for the season – I fully agree and try to live by it. We have so many blessings and sharing is an even greater blessing. I wish you a joyous Holiday Season.
Many thanks Tiny. And all the best to you in the new year.
The randomness of life…I’m often thankful to be geographically fortunate. Nice thoughts and post Tina…Merry Christmas.
Definitely Andy. We drew a lucky straw for sure. All the best to you in the new year!
Great series for the challenge.
Thanks very much BTB
Love your contribution to this week’s challenge. Perfect!
Thanks MC, much appreciated!
Tina, I love your interpretation and photos, especially the second one. Even in the US, there are still crops that are picked by hand, either by immigrant workers or by families who go to the farmers markets or the like. Farming even with machinery is difficult work; by hand, even more so.
As you so aptly remind us, ’tis the season to be generous, especially when you think that many of us don’t even have any “needs” for Christmas and may even have difficulty finding “wants.” My husband and our younger daughter are delivering a bicycle to a family who can’t afford to buy one for their little girls and we have two more to deliver and one being bought in California. It’s something we’ve done the last few years, a growth of my husband’s interest in biking and remembrance of the joy of receiving a bike of his own: https://2wheels2kids.wordpress.com/. One woman has contributed each year for the last two years. What a blessing!
I pray you’re enjoying the pre-Christmas season.
janet
What a fun tradition Janet, good for you! We are a bit more plebeian here but about 60 of us contribute to a fund that we than distribute to local families who need a little help. It’s grown quite. Nicely since we started it 3 years ago. If everyone who COULD do something actually DID, the world would surely be a better place. Happy new year to you and yours.
That’s a great idea, too, Tina. I agree: every little bit more than helps.
Great interpretation of the theme.
Thanks!
Thanks for giving us the beautiful photos with a sentiment we all need to remember. We observed similar field workers in Nepal with the same thoughts you’ve shared in this post. Blessings on you and your family at this joyous, thankful time of year.
Definitely my pleasure! Appreciate your visit and lovely thought. All the best to you too!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too, Tina.
😀😀
Beautiful post, Tina. I share your desire to make the world a kinder and more generous place this holiday season and beyond!
Thanks Patti, hope your holiday was wonderful. Look forward to more of your posts in 2016!
The same is true for me, Tina! Your work is inspiring.
I’ve been planning a post on Yangshuo and the Li River area , and a few of your photos here remind me so much of that landscape! Have I guessed correctly? Beautiful choices and words for the theme today.
Hi Lex, no these were in the Shangri-La area. Very beautiful there. Thx for stopping by!
Well, in that case, I’ll have to add another destination to my list!
Great Post
Thank you Mukul.