What I love about photography is that your photos are your unique lens on life and the world. Two people capture the same event differently. A photo also asks – who took this picture, where is so and so, and where was this pic taken?
After saying all that, there’s patience required in capturing the moment and being fully present – not rushing off to the next thing and missing out on that great shot. Wildlife photographers will sit for hours in extreme conditions to get that one-in-a-million photo.
Our own human vision is so limited, especially what we think might or might not happen.
We’ve had elk sightings on the Harrison River flats – a rare occurrence as they can be quite elusive and are disguised in the tall grass.
The other night, Rick was taking a short walk down our boat launch, binocs in hand. to see if ‘an elk’ would appear. (He used to hunt, but now ‘hunts’ with his camera.)
I declined to go – was tired from a long walk, just wanted to chill, take a shower and wash my dirty hair. (eeeeuuuw)
No elk would probably show up anyway.
Was I ever wrong. A whole herd was out there.
Rick had tried to call but my phone was on silent. Missed it.
Rick took pics but the dusky light made it hard to see them. You would have had to be there. (Can you spot the elk? Kind of like “Where’s Waldo.”)
In reading John 20 this morning, something for me took ‘missing out’ to a whole other level.
After Jesus’ death on the cross. Peter and John went to Jesus’ tomb, they didn’t walk – they ran. The men stooped down and saw the linen clothes lying there neatly folded. (Wouldn’t have been grave-robbers.) They believed Jesus had risen, but didn’t yet know the Scriptures that He must rise from the dead. (John 20:3-9)
but “Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.” (v.10)
Mary, however, lingered. And as she wept, she stooped down and saw two angels who asked why she was weeping and then moments later, (unbeknownst to her until she heard His voice), her beloved Teacher (v. 14-18).
Rather than rushing away to her own home, in her lingering, Mary saw the angels and had the first recorded encounter with the risen Lord Jesus.
This passage hit me with profound meaning. Maybe I need a little more lingering with the Lord. We ask for a fresh anointing or to hear His voice more clearly and be tuned into His will. Hard to do when we’re in a hurry to rush off to accomplish the next thing in the plan we’ve visualized for the day.
Take a little time in these late days of summer to linger in what matters.
When Jesus says He’s the Good Shepherd, it is more than you can ever imagine.
(Run, don’t walk.)
xoxo
Nancy
Nancy Thygesen (BFA, MPS) is an artist, faith-based art therapist, movement specialist and inspiring speaker, sharing and teaching through the universal languages of art and movement. My mission in therapy and creating art is to support and inspire that creative light that heals mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. Click here to get my downloadable PDF Cultivating Creativity.