I had just walked across the border into Swaziland, from Mozambique maybe 10 minutes earlier. I walked past a sign that said “WELCOME TO SWAZILAND”, and immediately wanted to go grab my camera in the van and get a shot of the sign. I figured I ought to go get my passport stamped first though.
After getting it stamped, I hurried over to the van, asked someone who was already inside to hand me my camera, then walked and jogged over to the sign. Hannah and Talia followed me over and asked for a picture of them in front of the sign. After taking their picture, I took a few for myself, and headed back to the van.
Just as I was walking back, I heard a guy who was walking toward me, ask me if I would take a picture of him. As kind of an unfortunate acquired reflex, I mumbled something like ‘No, thanks.’ I just assumed that he was drunk or something and just said one of the few English phrases he knew to the passing white boy. I quickly checked myself and thought, ‘Wait…why not just take a picture of him?’
So, I turned around and just aimed it at him, snapped a picture and smiled.
One thing I’ve learned or picked up this year so far, is to be really cautious with my camera. My dad has often said to, ‘Always protect the [photography] equipment.’ I’ve made it a habit to now carry my camera in a football hold while having the strap around my neck and shoulder. I’ve just learned to be extra careful with it and to beware of my surroundings when I take it out to start shooting.
I don’t know if it is just selfishness, stereotyping or being over-cautious with my camera at times that led me to be initially non-engaging with that man who just wanted me to take his picture. But whatever is at the root of that instinctive reflex of just walking on by, has been taught at least a little lesson by this picture; number 2364.
As I looked at the picture for the first time just now, I see that he has a big smile on his face. And coincidentally is directly underneath the WELCOME TO SWAZILAND sign.
So, the lesson I have learned is that as a Christian I need to always be loving people. Even the people that I think could be some kind of petty threat of some sort. And it looks like this guy genuinely just wanted his picture taken, and I easily could’ve (and almost did) just blown him off and wrongfully judged him as something that he probably wasn’t.
So, let this be a lesson to all of you as well: Love one another! “Give to everyone who asks of you.” (Lk. 6:30) and remember that, “Love does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, and thinks no evil…” (1 Cor. 13:5)
