Persistence pays off

Sometimes a story just stays with you—not because of the headlines or the outcome, but because of the heart behind it. That’s what happened when I read about photographer Julie Maggert and her journey to capture an image of a rare orange snowy owl. Her photos are stunning, no question. But for me, the real story wasn’t in the pictures—it was in what she went through to get them.

She didn’t just stumble onto something remarkable. She heard about it, got in her car, drove two hours, and sat for hours in the cold—again and again—facing disappointment each time. She could’ve walked away. But she didn’t. Julie kept going, quietly and determinedly, until finally, after four long days and logging almost a thousand miles, she got what she came for.

That stuck with me. Because so many of us are out here chasing something—hope, healing, purpose, a dream—and it’s easy to give up when it doesn’t come quickly. Julie reminded me what persistence can look like. What it can lead to. And that maybe, just maybe, the reward we’re after is waiting—if we’re willing to keep showing up. 

Enjoy Julie’s prized orange snowy owl photos and her story of determination and persistence here.