This Is How I Pause: I Converse With God While Taking Photos
Ruth is a young woman, currently working as a Graphic designer at Ethnos Movement International, while also freelancing and growing her creative skills on the side-lines. The scripture that represents her ‘mission statement’ while here on earth, she takes from Matthew 5: 14 – 16 from the Message version which motivates us to “be a light” and be “God-colours.” From a young age she has enjoyed anything creative, from fashion to photography, self-directed plays to song-writing, designing to painting, and the list goes on! This week she shares with us how she pauses.
This Is How I Pause:
I Converse With God While Taking Photos
From a young age, I fell in love with the world of creativity and God as the Creator. I have always sought out creative projects and hobbies as a way in which I can draw closer to God. Photography however has a special place in my heart, as it allows me to capture a still moment of God’s creation and meditate over it for many days and years to come.
The appeal of photography has patently increased and turned into a popular “habit” within society. Whether it’s through the lens of a professional camera, or a cell phone, people desire to capture a moment to ensure its corresponding memory will not be forgotten. I used to sympathize with that statement until the Holy Spirit brought forth a revelation to my method and perception of photography. Nowadays, I think photography is so much more than merely “capturing a moment”. Let me share my heart with you through a brief story:
When I was 17 years old, I had the privilege of partaking in a school trip to Europe. My school friends and I were set to visit some of the most famous cities in the world: Paris, Venice, Rome, and Amsterdam. After months of money-saving and outfit-planning, our European adventure began, and my camera and I seemingly became glued together. I found myself clicking my camera button excessively, in hope of “capturing the moment” as I wasn’t sure whether I would ever have an opportunity like this again. Little did I know that my habitual tourist-act was soon going to be challenged …
On one particular day, while in Rome, our tour guide had scheduled a full day of sightseeing. This included walking through the Roman Ruins and visiting the Colosseum. I was beyond excited and filled with eagerness to capture these infamous landmarks with my camera. Alas, when we were all on the bus and on-route to these remarkable destinations, the realization dropped in my heart that I had left my camera AND phone behind at the hostel. I couldn’t even take a selfie at the Colosseum, let alone a high-quality photo that would last a lifetime!
I remember the self-pity I felt stepping out of that bus, no camera in hand, upon arrival. Surrounded by my friends joyously taking photos of the beauty encircling us, I was convinced that my experience that day would be less than theirs.
BUT GOD
To this day, I can distinctly visualize where I was standing within the Colosseum, when the Holy Spirit arrested my self-pity. My eyes grew wider, and my mouth hung open with amazement at the expanse and extraordinary beauty I was witnessing. It was at this moment, with the help of the Holy Spirit, that I chose to not let my left-behind-camera ruin the unfathomable moment that I was living in.
I remember at that point, quietening down the voice of our tour guide and starting an endless conversation with the Holy Spirit – as my tour guide. My conversation with Him drifted from topic to topic, conversing about the exquisite layers of steps, the broken ruins, the blue sky, the enormous gates, the people coming together at the attraction, and so forth.
Looking back now, the “mistake” of leaving my camera behind at the hostel, was no mistake at all. I realised the importance of putting the focus on God rather than habitually clicking a camera button. The pursual of conversing with the Creator above capturing creation. In fact, it was that particular day that my love for photography grew WITHOUT even using a camera. And this further exhibited a personal revelation in my life of the mysterious yet trustworthy ways that God moves and works.
The Holy-Spirit-inspired method of photography that I utilize today can be affirmed in conjunction with the following article titled ‘Transforming Presence: Knowing God in the Ordinary.’ In this article, author Richard J Vincent says the following:
“I believe that God’s greatest promise is this: ‘I will be with you always.’ Or, stated negatively, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ At the core of every covenant, God establishes with human beings are the words, ‘I will be your God and you will be my people.’ … Because of our tendency to theorize rather than apply, I put forward a challenge: What if we were to live as if God were present in every place in all situations – always seeking our good and his glory? Wouldn’t this transform everything – every moment, every activity, every encounter with others? Wouldn’t this completely change our perspective? I believe that a conscious, intentional, and consistent attempt to live as if God were present in every place in all situations would do nothing less than completely transform our lives! … We need to discipline ourselves to make ourselves more aware of God’s favorable and faithful presence. ” [1]
Everything that we are surrounded by is envisioned and brought to life by God – the Creator, the Artist, our Friend, and our Comforter – and He is in the midst of his Creation. His presence always encompasses us. How can we take a photo of the artwork without talking to the ever-present artist?
Whether you find yourself around friends and family (who are formed in the image of God) or amid beautiful creation (sculpted by God) or looking up at the mesmerizing skies (painted by God), get into the habit of not just clicking a camera button. Rather than “capturing the moment,” let your heart revel in conversing with the Creator of that moment. Out of this, the real purpose of photography will shine through, not as self-glorification, but God glorification.
This is how I pause and breathe.
[1] https://parramattabaptist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Transforming-Presence-.pdf
