Remind Me Of My Light
by Sharon Musgrove
There’s an amazing portrait
photographer in the UK whose uplifting work crossed my Instagram feed. His posts consist of short videos where he
stops individuals on the street, asks if he might take their picture for promotional
material on social media, snaps a few photos, and then reveals both the
portrait and the reaction of his models to their image.
The portraits are stunning.
And the muses are stunned.
The people the photographer
engages are everyday folk, commoners out doing the day. And it is usual for the somebody he stops to
decline the photo-op, initially, claiming to dislike the way they look. But with the promise that he will delete all
content the person wants destroyed, people acquiesce.
This artist sees something in
people that many don’t see in themselves . . . a special radiance, and somehow,
through the right lens, he captures this light in everyone. He often brings his subject to tears when they
see this version of themselves that they’ve lost touch with.
In viewing the footage, I’m
reminded of how Jesus highlighted the characteristics of light in people during
His sermon on the mount (Matthew 5).
Jesus speaks to a crowd of
people gathered to hear something good.
The times were bleak, and hope was dim.
The doings of each day seemed dismal, and faces wore the hard lines of
discouragement.
But Jesus saw the world
through a different lens. He noticed
broken hearts where people judged hard shells.
Christ knew where glowing embers hid.
Thus, He invited them . . . and us . . . back into the vision God had
for His children as if to say, may I recapture the person I see?
The Savior’s mountain-message
described images of individuals he called blessed. Those who endured hardship yet remained
humble. People grieving yet grateful. Those challenged but unchanged. He gave them a snapshot of what happy looks
like.
And then Jesus said,
“You are the light of the
world—like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a
basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone
in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15 (NLT,
emphasis mine)
Those who endure the pains of
passage through life and yet continue to hold out hope in God’s love give
light.
So, if we lose our light,
what then?
The world becomes a darker
place.
“I think you look great.” Says the photographer to his chosen
subject. And worry lines dissipate into
a curious countenance.
It’s common that a person
photographed, by the fellow that I follow, will give personal testimony of how
poorly they felt prior to their portrait experience. But when invited to smile, and then exposed
to that image, it reframes their whole outlook.
Do you know you are light?
Even if your hope has grown
dim it’s not too late! There’s plenty of
time to recapture the person God intended you to be. Just open to letting the Holy Spirit reveal
God’s love for you . . . and you’ll recognize the beauty in His image.
Author
Bio:
Sharon has
been writing and teaching biblically based curriculum, Bible studies, and
devotionals since 2007.
She has
had the unique position of writing curriculum and teaching for two private,
Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served
women in the homeless community.
Sharon has
traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the
rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to speak in Leadership camps intended
on encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often
abused young women.
Within
these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words
spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its
transformative power has become her passion.
Sharon and
her husband, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown
children.
Currently,
Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing
face to face. Additionally, she is working towards a degree in Ministry.
~*~
Connect
with Sharon:
Website: Sharonmusgrove.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/
Mary Yod
Anne Blackburne
