Though blogging has been around for some time, for me its new. I am sure it will take awhile to figure out the "how to's" and develop my style and discover my voice but I hope you'll be able to bear with me and also enjoy what I have to share. Its been on my heart for awhile to share WHY my photography is so important to me. My friends and family have come to expect me to have a camera on hand, but I'm not sure those that know me the best really know the WHY. For me it not just an activity it truly is part of my soul.
I have been drawn to older church buildings for some time now. I love the architecture and detail that went into making a building into a house of worship full of symbolism, dedication, and love. I decided to "kick off" the beginning of my blog with "the church" for several reason. For one, I would not be who I am without God. My faith is very important to me and it has played a large role in my ever growing love for photography. When I started off using it as a way to unwind from a stressful day or week, I remember being mesmerized by details I could only see through a lens and reflecting back to the verse in Matthew (see below).
Matthew 6:25-34New International Version (NIV) {www.biblegateway.com}
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Seeing Life through a lens, and seeing the intricate details of a flower, bird, or whatever my subject matter was made me realize what this verse means and that He who created all of this has greater plans for me than he does for the flower or the birds yet he takes care of them. So why was I worried or stressed, I just needed to continue to trust beyond sight for his plans in my life. We all need reminders about this. Life is a continued journey that we all must travel. God speaks in many ways and for me he predominately speaks to me through my lens.
Today marks the 64th annual National Day of Prayer and another reason why I chose my focus photography to be on the church. "Our theme for 2015 is Lord, Hear Our Cry, emphasizing the need for individuals, corporately and individually, to place their faith in the unfailing character of their Creator, who is sovereign over all governments, authorities, and men. To further highlight our theme, we’ve chosen I Kings 8:28 as our Scripture for this year: 'Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.'” {www.nationaldayofprayer.org}
I am a Christian but regardless of your faith, we all should be thankful for living in a country that allows freedom of religion. Are we a perfect nation? no Do we struggle with the PC forms of expressing faith and its values? yes But do we overall offer more opportunity to have freedoms from persecution and/or imprisonment/death due to a belief? most definitely I think its important to pray for our leaders and our country on a regular if not daily basis; however, if this is not your practice please take part in this special day. Lets not find the things that separate us but join together to make tomorrow a better place.
And lastly I find myself imagining believers of the past going to church and I wonder what it must have been like for them: did they have to walk for miles, ride a horse, what was it like to attend services through some of biggest wars or plights of our nation etc? How did they pull together? Did situations draw them to Christ or did divisions among believers turn them away? I know I won't know the answers but seeing older chapels and cathedrals allow me to reflect on these things. I want to capture the building if for nothing else than is a symbol of faith, a beautiful structure with ornate symbolic details. Its rare to see a building of the past that serves in present day and hopefully will continue in the future--how cool is that?! May it continue to offer a place of sanctuary, worship, and love. May we learn from the past mistakes, strive to love God and others, and continue to live in a nation that is sovereign.
There is nothing more peaceful or safe feeling than to walk into these old sanctuaries and soak in the goodness of God, see the beautiful details,and just have a spirit of thanksgiving for the blessings in life.
