doing your work | 365daysofmarriage

A few days ago I came across this verse:

“Do not neglect the gift you have…” 1 Timothy 4:14a

This is always such a great reminder for me in regards to my photography. It’s not an easy life…being a free-lance photographer (or any type of free-lancer)…but is the life that I believe God has created me for. There are times when I really don’t want to take pictures. There are times when I want to just sit back with everyone else and be an observer too. To capture images in my memory, not my camera.

I’ll admit, there are times when I “forget” my camera on purpose…and then I regret it. One time was a wedding I attended as a guest. As you can imagine, these are very rare. I wanted to really enjoy myself, so the camera was left at home. As it turned out, we were seated with the bride’s father. At one point, whether a dance or toast, the father started to cry. Their wedding photographer didn’t see it…which I can completely understand…I personally would have missed it if I was shooting. But I’m sitting there, witnessing this beautiful moment, and wishing I had my camera.

There are times when I think it’s ok for me to “neglect the gift.” A few days ago, I was outside walking with my brother and I looked up, saw a hawk flying around and then I looked closer….there was WHITE on that hawk! Holy crap that’s a bald eagle! I watched it fly and it was awesome. It was the first time I’d seen one “in real life” and not in a zoo. I did force myself to actually drink in this moment, because I probably couldn’t get to my camera in time. I gave myself about 2-4 minutes….and then I took off….RAN to get my camera….but not fast enough…and that was ok.

I think there are times I neglect the gift because I forget that not everyone can do this. Here’s a good example of this with another field.

My friend Susan is starting a business. She’ll be doing a number of things with her business, but mostly helping people declutter their homes, decorate their homes, etc. In conversations we’ve had, she’ll have an idea, something she just mentions in passing and I say, wow, that’s awesome! I never thought about it like that! And most of the time it surprises her…because her gift is so deeply rooted in her, she doesn’t realize what she knows are things not everyone knows.

Ah, so wonderful that God doesn’t leave us where we are…He gently brings us back in focus (tee hee, a little pun) when we need to be.

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