I recently bought a new camera. It’s pretty sweet if I must say so myself. It has all these settings and buttons so the pictures come out AWESOME!!
I take my camera EVERYWHERE! You never know what you may see.
One thing I’m trying to improve is “capturing the moment” as it happens. I don’t know too much about photography so I just take the same picture in 10 different settings, pick the one I like, and then delete the bad ones.
I have a friend, however, that is REALLLLY good at “capturing the moment.” I’m talking…Nigel Barker type skills!
I think it’s a spiritual gift.
This past week, I was in Chicago and I had the chance to spend some time with him. He insisted on taking me to see the sites so I would have pictures to “show the family and show friends on facebook” as he said.
I insisted that we leave our bookbags and cameras behind…
WHY?
Because we were in Chicago and I didn’t want to be like one of those “funny looking, pants above my bellybutton, bookbag carrying, picture taking, I heart CHI shirt wearing” tourists.
No, I’ve been to Chicago many times which…basically…means I’m from Chicago and I don’t get excited by touristy things anymore. —> Don’t ask me how that works!?
He laughed and called me a “poser!”
I’d rather pretend to be a Chicagoan [poser me] than just be a tourist [real me].
I’d rather pretend to know everything about photography [poser me] than just admit that my camera makes the pictures look great without my help [real me].
I’d rather pretend to know lots of stuff about the Bible [poser me] than just admit that I’m learning just like the next person [real me].
Perhaps, I’m just afriad that if I’m honest with God about where I’ve fallen short (like He doesn’t already know) He’ll look down on me, give up, and not use me. But I read this story tonight about the Apostle Paul and he publicly referred to himself as “the worst sinner.” (1 Timothy 1:15)
WAIT…Hold up! The Apostle Paul = The Worst Sinner?
How is it possible that the most influential guy in the Bible is also the biggest screw up?
Maybe being honest with God is not only the start of transforming our lives and relationship with Him, but also an opportunity to be used by God. Perhaps, my honesty with myself will give others the courage to be themselves and consequently experience grace too.
This is what I realized after a few hours of seeing the sites of Chicago: it was much easier for me to be a tourist [real me] when I realized I was literally surrounded by thousands of other tourists.
I wonder if I’m the only poser out here. And if not, what a defining moment it will be when we stop posing because we realize we’re surrounded by thousands of other posers in need of some serious grace.
Why do you think we “fake” so many things? Why do you think it’s hard for us to be real?
(I fear I’m the only poser out there and this is going to have few comments but if you feel inspired, please feel free to join in.)
p.s. You didn’t really think I left my camera at home did you? Never!
The blog re-sizes my pictures so they aren’t as crisp and colorful as the real pictures…but ENJOY!
This is my “racer” pose!
I love photography so much, I returned at night to take the same pictures. I’m such a geek!
This is really how the picture developed. I didn’t do anything to it. Sweet, right!?
