Proceed

Proceed. I have to…to look at this photo of my little Canon Powershot, I know I am rich. Rich in the celebrations of success and, yes, the lessons ingrained in miserable failures. Rich, too, through the growing pains that patience asks of us and perseverance produces. I’m rich in the broadening of my still humanly-puny view of God and His creation, through the time spent photographing the small world around me, rich for accepting the challenges this little camera offered me, and rich knowing every lesson I’ve been taught, turned out to reward me in ways that I never, EVER could have imagined.

There are benefits to the methodical ways by which I proceed, but maybe that’s just the indication that I’m a slow learner.  Whether I choose to be described as one or the other, I’ll need to take all that I’ve learned with me and remember those lessons in the weeks and months to come.  Yes, I am more than slightly apprehensive about the new camera that arrived in the mail two days ago, (it took me a full day before I opened the box) but it’s here and my next milestone is waiting for me to step out in faith.  Challenged by the words of Arthur Ashe, I will start where I am, use what I have, and do what I can.

It’s all that I can do, ever, but, thank the Lord, never alone. Jesus asks me to do these things empowered by His Name, which is a real game-changer, with life-altering and redemptive possibilities. Truth be known, my rebel heart is not a fan of change, (big surprise, there!) so please say a prayer for me because, YIKES, I’m fully aware that change is coming. But hopes are high that as a follower of Jesus Christ, His holy and eternal purposes will develop an image reflecting His glory that, at this writing, He sees infinitely more clearly than I see. I might become a better photographer, too.