Within the frame
Within the Frame
I found God in a photography book last week. Well, maybe that's not the best way to describe what I'm trying to say, but it's true. There in between the pages of a book on photography composition I caught a glimpse of God.
The book, Within the Frame by David duChemin, explores the idea of taking really good photos so you can tell a story. It explains how to capture the subject's facial features, hands, and their personal context. The book shows how to piece these snapshots together so you can get a full idea of a person through the course of a few intentional pictures.
The book explained that in order to capture someone you have to not just look through the lens, but really see them to encompass who they really are.
It's true, isn't it?
I believe that sometimes in life we can just look at people, instead of really seeing them. There's a huge difference, isn't there?
For whatever reason, whether busyness, ignorance, or purely self-centeredness, we can forget to see people for who they really are. Instead, we just look at each other and keep moving on in life.
Has anyone ever taken the time to really see you? I'm not talking about just your face or personal style – what I'm talking about is someone taking the time to see the whole you. Your past, your present, your hopes, your dreams.
Doesn't happen very often, does it?
I can think of a handful of people who have taken the time to really see me and get to know me. There are few people in life who slow down enough, or put others before themselves to really take the time to get to know others. But, when someone really sees another person something happens.
When you take the time to get to see another person you handle them with more grace and care. When you can see the bigger picture of who someone is, and where they've come from, you'll treat them with kindness.
See, when you are intentional about learning what makes someone tick and seeing them for who they really are, you'll learn how to love them well. Once you see what makes a person excited and frustrated – you'll know how you can love them really well.
When you take time to see the bigger part of someone's story you'll know why they act the way they act, and why they are passionate about their passions. You'll get insight into their past, know why they are they way they are today, and see potential for them in the future. You'll see how their family has shaped the person they are today and how the triumphs and failures of their past lead up to their current state of reality.
And for you, if you're the one being seen – you'll know that you're loved and appreciated. It's true.
So, for me, I found God in a photography book.
I found that attribute of God that wants each of us to love and be loved really well. Hard, you say. Sure. But, maybe step one is to take the time to really see instead of merely look.