Remind Me of My Light by Sharon Musgrove

 

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. 

 

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Connect with Sharon:

Website: Sharonmusgrove.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/