The artistry of this photo appeals to my heart, but its draw is deeper than mere appreciation for the colors and light and composition. It moves me that the two flowerheads on thin stems are bent toward one another.

It speaks of a secret God embedded in His Creation and His creatures. If the individuals stand stick-straight, their symmetry might impress. But the picture tells a sweet story when they lean in, toward one another, toward Him.

For writers: When the writing gets tough, painful to pursue, when a scene is too close to the heart to write without peeling off the outer layers to reveal the raw truth about our characters and ourselves, lean in. Lean into the pain to write more authentically. Lean into the Lord to write with Hope.

For readers: Does something threaten to stiffen the stems of a relationship you share with a friend or family member? Lean in. See if it doesn’t make art of the scene.