Reflections at Red Oak Lake

A couple of weekends ago, we had men’s leadership retreat from our church, and the event was held at The Grove at Red Oak Lake in Cordova, Tennessee, just outside of Memphis. I knew the place was there, and Laura had been there a few times for different events, but I had never been there myself.

Imagine my surprise when I got there and found out that there was a lake there! Okay, so I was actually expecting a lake, given the name of the place. But I wasn’t expecting the view in the morning to be quite as great as it was. The sun was just coming up, the water was still, and the reflections in the lake were great. Not to mention that great blue sky that we sometimes get around here.

I particularly liked the way this tree outside the lodge where we were meeting was illuminated. Parts of it were still in the shadows due to the angle of the sun and some taller trees in the area, but it still looked really neat. Hence the photo.

And if that wasn’t enough, the view across the lake was pretty nice, too:

Here again, you can see that nice blue sky and the great reflections on the clear water. And some more cool trees across the way, too.

From past experience with youth group retreats and such, a retreat for me is usually some place far away from everything. So it was interesting how this place is pretty much right in town. Yes, it is in a Memphis suburb and not right in the center of the city. But it would still have been a 45 minute drive to our home out in the country from here. If I had been going home after the retreat ended. But with our crazy life, there was something else to go to after that. So a retreat of any kind is nice. Even if you have to go into town to get there.

How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. - Psalm 1:1-3

About the photo:

I was glad I had taken my camera with me. I didn’t really know if I would use it or not, but I thought I might have some time to get a couple of photos of the lake or something. Once I saw the early morning light and the calm water, I was glad to have my camera with me. A note to myself: it is always a good idea to take your camera with you whenever you can, because you sometimes don’t know when you might want to have it.

Photo: Each photo is single Raw exposure, processed in Photoshop. Read more about photography tips, photo software, camera gear, and more at Steve’s Photography Tips. Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M10 Lens: Olympus M.Zukio 25mm f1.8 Date: Olympus 14-42mm IIR Location: Cordova, Tennessee