… you never dreamed of hoping for. - from the song ‘What if?’ by Nichole Nordeman.
It’s a dangerous shot for my sweet little camera… going into the sun like that. I knew it’d be worth it. I look at it and feel it’s just them but at the same time feel like something else is there with them in the shot……..
I will keep this so very short. I touched on my belief in the importance of faith in my number four inspiration, Buckhead Church. I also touched on how sensitive a subject faith and religion is in that same write up. I must say though I think it is too taboo now a days… I understand not pushing religion or belief on others but to feel odd to even talk about it is a sign of our times. We are all so worried about being ‘politically correct’ that we forget what our own opinions are. God is my number one inspiration… in work, in life and everything I am. If I make anyone uncomfortable, I do apologize. But at the same time I make one feel uncomfortable I hope that person is uncomfortable because they have as strong as an inspiration elsewhere just in another form.
I have been in and out of religion. I went to church when I was younger because it is what we did. I didn’t believe… in a lot of what they were saying but it wasn’t something that bothered me… I just went, because it’s what we did. Biggest thing I didn’t agree with though was the thinking that if one didn’t go to church they weren’t religious or spiritual. Because they preach the love of God but warn that one has to attend church in order to talk to Him… it just seemed odd to me that the love He gave could only come for an hour on Sunday. But ironicially after it was made clear by my pastor at Buckhead Church you didn’t have to be in the building to be with God, I starting attending without fail. I attend the 6pm service every Sunday even after long work days or big Falcons wins or if I am traveling I find it online. Buckhead Church has done wonderful things for me in that one hour a week… but it is God that has done them for me the other 167 hours in the week.
My friend always says ‘God is painting the ‘perfect’ picture in your life. Just let Him paint.’ My life has been next to perfect already… I’ll admit this, but I still find those moments or those experiences where you should wonder what do you do now, why is this happening, how do I go on. I think back on those times and the answers were always so small and for the moment. My answers have changed as my ‘relationship’ with God has changed. I still most definitely have problems (dang) but I find my answers in the bigger solution, in the bigger ‘picture’ if you will. I’ll be very open (like I’ve been anything but, but still) I used to make fun of people who were what we would call ‘Bible-beaters.’ If we allow ourselves to believe in the non-human power we find less human, less strict interpretations and answers we then act less human in response… with more care, with more understanding than a human brain would less us. Example: You’re boss tells you, ‘You’re terrible.’ Human response: ”No, you’re terrible.” Lil less human response: I’ll forgive him for that comment, he’s probably facing a harder battle. I thought that was all nonsense until it started happening in my own life. There’s more warmth, there’s more understanding for horrific events, there’s content in death and more joy than jealousy. I am not a perfect Christian… I swear, I speed, I drink (among many other things I won’t mention) but my God teaches forgiveness and love and just the simple understanding of a ‘person’ that only wants to forgive and only wants to love, though it seems we’d try and get away with so much more but I’ve found it only makes me want to be a better friend, a better roommate, a better business person, a better family member… just a better person every day of my life.
I’ll go back to my #4 write up one more time in emphasizing the idea and notion of faith. Though God is what I put my faith in… may you all find a faith that makes you believe the good is good for a reason and the bad is good for a reason, too. There were endless quotes I thought would apply to this write up… but I chose this one about hope. With faith, this title quote is not a question… there is hope… and I’ve said time and time again, God has hoped bigger things for me and you, than we can even begin to believe and/or hope for… He’s painting a more beautiful picture than we could comprehend… “Let Him paint”… have hope… have faith.
That wraps up ELP’s ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY IMAGE AND INSPIRATION EXTRAVAGANZA. Heartfelt thanks to all of those who were even with us for one day! I have FAITH that this next year will find even more beautiful images, keep the same inspirations… and maybe even, find some more.
FAMILY PORTRAIT SPECIAL rolling out soon. Make sure you’re on ELP’s mailing address by emailing me or fun@erikaleighphotography.com to get details. NEW BLOG DESIGN will be up as soon as I finish my second ‘Technology Tackle’ of ’09… come back soon!
As always, stay in touch… erika@erikaleighphotography.com
2 comments