For years now, I’ve always identified myself as a photographer. People would ask me what I did for a living and I would tell them that I photographed weddings or engagements on the side of going to school and working. In the past few months I’ve been convicted by God over my photography. It came to the point where I would travel for pleasure and would find myself in a beautiful location just shooting away and not taking in the creation He has blessed me with. I have been to some of the most incredible places in the past year or so, but only have photos to prove for it. You might be thinking that photos are great, which they are, but there is more to it than taking photos. It came to the point where I would go places to check off my list and document, but wouldn’t take the time to appreciate and be still in those moments to cherish God and His perfect creation.
Coming on the race I knew a huge ministry of mine would be photographing and documenting the lives and cultures around the world. I wanted to be that person who photographed everything so I would never forget what I went through during my year long World Race. It didn’t take longer than the first week on the race where I realized God had other plans for me. I found my camera and photography taking a back seat to what God was preparing for me and my heart. Last month I took my camera out maybe 2 or 3 times and that was it. I didn’t really have a desire to document things and I couldn’t figure out why that was..
The first week of being here in Haiti I finally started to understand it all. I had started seeing the places and people around me the way God see’s them, as precious and perfect. He see’s His creation as beautiful and good and is blessing me with these experiences. I started to see it all this way as well. I saw things for the first time because I actually experienced these moments instead of holding a lens over my eyes. One day during our second to last day at VBS, God told me to bring my camera for the following day. I remember arguing with myself over whether or not it would be a good idea to bring my camera when 300+ kids are grabbing at your limbs for three hours straight.
On the 9th day of being in Haiti I finally took out my camera and brought it to VBS. I without a doubt can say that I have never felt so much love, joy, and Jesus’s soul than I did on the day where I brought my camera to VBS. I felt so alive and passionate about the children I was photographing and have never felt so happy to hold my camera. In every child I photographed I saw Jesus and His spirit inside of them. I felt His peace in their eyes and the longing to be loved and noticed as a child of the King. It was then where I realized that my gift of photography that Christ has given me, is to be used for His glory and His glory alone, not my own. He gave me those moments to document and showed himself through each image. I learned that my identity is in Christ alone and have covered that identity up with ‘being a photographer.’ Though I am so fortunate to take photos, I never put into perspective that He had given me this gift to glorify Him in everything I photograph. He provides me with the moments and feelings to pull out my camera when I need to, and I just happen to click the button to capture these special moments. I am excited to experience Jesus in everything I photograph from now on, because I have finally learned why He has given me the gift of photography. It is such a beautiful gift that I will cherish forever and share with all of you back home!
Blessings and love,
Katie
