Through the Lens of a Dad

In December, 2008, after saving and scrounging, and after trying to subtly convince my wife, I bought my first DSLR camera. Since purchasing it, I’ve taken more photos of my family than any human being would ever need in a lifetime. It has also consumed my time, when I’m not Facebooking, reading, or hanging out with my family. It has become my new “obsession.”

Burdened with guilt, I was thinking recently why I am so drawn to such a fancy and expensive camera. I think the answer is that I am a “creative.” A friend of mine from high school visited me last summer and asked if I was still making artwork. My friend and I spent a lot of time together painting, playing the guitar and “waxing poetic” about art in high school. He is still doing and making art in the Chicagoland area. I, on the other hand, am working for a church in the Silicon Valley. A different path from what my high school days would have predicted. But my friend’s visit helped me to realize that I am a creative person. That’s just how God the Creator wired me. I have a great need to create. As someone created in God’s image, this is what I am reflecting from my God. So, I take pictures. I take lots of pictures.

I guess I look at it as not so much the camera that has become my obsession, but the images it produces. I started a 365 Project on January 1st, taking and posting a picture a day on flickr.com. If you want to see it, click on the photos to the right of this post. I also really appreciate documenting my little girl’s life. I think I’ve only missed 3 days where I didn’t take a picture of her during the last year and half or so.

What about you? Are you a “creative”? What is it that you JUST have to do because it’s in you?

Thanks for reading.

Joe

My wife and I have been off of Facebook since Lent started. That’s a grand total of 12 days. It feels like a month already. A big reason why I’m doing it is because I am on the internet too much. I am trying to limit myself to checking email, posting pics up on flickr, and updating this blog. I’m also on espn.com a lot. But Facebook was up on my computer almost any time I was working. So, for Lent it was a good idea to “fast” from it and redirect my time more productively.

The Source of My Exhaustion
The past two weeks have been crazy. Crazy because it’s been busy. My work at our church has extended into Compassion Ministries. A few weeks ago we decided to start one and I was asked by the Missions Committee to head it up. I gladly accepted because it is where my heart is right now. Since our initial meeting/dinner a few weeks ago, I’ve been thinking, praying and trying to figure out what to do next with this ministry.

Another thing on my plate is what my job is supposed to be at my church. I’ve been doing much more for our youths and our youth group than I have in the last 6 months. A huge surge of inspiration and ideas has hit me since the end of last year, when a friend of mine spoke at my church on Sunday. Suddenly, I feel more alive in ministry and more in-sync with God. I am excited for where our youths are at spiritually. I see so many more of them thinking not just of their own spiritual condition but the rest of the group’s state too. About half of our student population want to get involved serving and growing in some capacity at our youth group and in church. A number want to go on a mission trip to Mexico, while a number want to do something significant for God at the church. What a huge blessing this is for us. I pray God would lead them to that place where they can experience Him the most.

The third thing that’s kept me busy is the sermon I gave yesterday. Preparing, writing and thinking about a sermon is in itself a full-time job. I am amazed at pastors who can do it week-in and week-out. Last night, laying in bed while my wife was on the computer, I said, “I’m exhausted. Preaching is a lot of work.” My wife said, “Get used to it. You might end up doing it every week some day.” My sermon yesterday is only the 26th I’ve given at our current church since 2006.

And finally, school. I had class all day on Saturday and that too was exhausting. It was good, but exhausting. I will surely be glad when I graduate in June! Hope I can make it there and finish strongly. A completed Master of Arts in Theology and Biblical Studies, here I come.

Well, that’s me in a nutshell. Thanks for reading.

Joe