In honor of Easter, this week I want to reflect a bit about my Lord Jesus, the passion He's given me, and the many ways I see Him in photography!
Who is Jesus?
For anyone who may not know, Jesus is the central and most important figure in the Christian faith. He is both fully God and fully human. He is a prophet and teacher. But more than that, He is the reason we can have a relationship with God. By dying and coming back to life, He made it possible for the whole world to be saved from death! He is the reason for living and the hope of all creation.
Why is Jesus the most important person? To answer that, I have to give some background. Christians believe that God created everything that exists. Of everything He made, He loves people the most. When God created the world, everything was perfect and people lived in a perfect relationship with God. Unfortunately, through sin (things that go against God), people broke both the world and all present and future human relationships with God. The only way to fix the relationship was for someone to die to pay the price for sin. Jesus is the only one who could do that and have it apply to all of humanity.
Why is He the only one? Jesus is both 100% God and 100% human. Because He is God, He was able to live a perfect life without sin. Because He is human, He was able to take the place of a human to sacrifice Himself for all people. He died in the most excruciating way imaginable, took on the full weight of God's wrath, and then came back to life so that death itself wouldn't have control over humanity anymore! Because of what He did, Jesus is the Savior and the bridge between us and God. Any person can have a relationship with God if they believe that Jesus died and rose for them, and confess that He is Lord. In doing so, that person is choosing to follow Jesus. (Following Jesus means trying to be more like Him every day.)
Why follow Jesus? I firmly believe that following Jesus is the most important decision every person will make. I chose to follow Him for the first time when I was a young kid then later reaffirmed that decision when I was a teenager. I would be lying if I said following Him is easy, but it is so worth it! Jesus is the one who gives me peace and joy. He's the one I can depend on more than anyone else. He's always there, always faithful, and always good. It's one decision I know I'll never regret.
What Photography is to Me
My love for photography started when I was a kid with a point and shoot camera. I loved being able to make art out of everyday things! Things that people might not have noticed could be brought to light. I love the artistry of it. The first moment I decided that I wanted to be a photographer I was in the mountains of Vermont taking foliage pictures. I was crouched next a ditch by the road and I remember looking up, seeing the leaves falling and catching the light, and realizing that this is was I was meant to do. I really believe that God put that love in my heart and has continued to build that love as I grow as a photographer!
To me, photography is an opportunity to preserve moments for people. I can use the skills God gave me for the benefit of others. I can see the little moments that other people may not notice and stop them in time! Photography is so unique because it lasts for generations. People print them and pass them down through their family. With each picture is a story of someone's life. Photography is a way to connect people through any length of time.
Where is Jesus in Photography?
I think one way Jesus is evident in photography is the way photos connect people. Jesus is all about connecting with people! He met every person where they were and loves everyone. What I love about photography is how it brings people together. Whether it's in a photo album built over years or on a phone just after it was taken, photography can be a serious unifier.
I've seen Jesus use photography in so many ways. One of my photographer friends was able to do a shoot for a family who had just lost their dad/husband. The family wanted the photos in the same location as a shoot they'd done a year or two prior. For that family, the photos meant memories of their lost loved one. I've also seen Jesus use photos to move people to action. The expression "a picture is worth a thousand words" is so true in those cases especially! I've seen pictures taken by photojournalists that have moved people to start revolutions, serve through ministry, and even just love people a little more. There's seriously no end to the amazing things God can do with photography!
This Easter I'm so grateful for who Jesus is, what He's done for me, and where He's taking me as I follow Him. I hope this Easter is just as reflective and lovely a time for you!
