May 15 – Lake Superior Agates

I never tire of photographing Lake Superior agates. The rich, earthy colors, intricate banding, and unique patterns in each stone are endlessly fascinating. These weren’t gathered from a beach — they sit in a bucket right behind me. When I want an agate fix, I simply stir the stones and discover a brand-new arrangement. This image was captured with my phone—nothing fancy, just a remarkable subject.

Most of these agates were originally found in a gravel pit—dirty, dull, and easy to overlook. After weeks of tumbling through progressively finer grades of grit, their hidden beauty slowly emerged. What once appeared rough and ordinary became smooth and brilliant. Today, they proudly represent Minnesota’s state gemstone.

Their transformation offers a quiet reminder of God’s providence. The beauty within the agate was always there—it simply needed time and refinement to be revealed.

“For you created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
” Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” — Psalm 139:13–14

The same providence is working in your life. You may feel the bumps and bruises, but the end result is for His glory.