Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing #23
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            Sometimes when I find myself in a photographic slump I’ll play a little “game” I call, “One Year Ago Today”.  I find a picture I’ve taken the year before and dabble with it, changing colors, adding textures or layers, or both and see what I come up with.  On one particular day I landed on a shot I’d taken of some wildflowers and grasses on a small hill by our church.  It was a truly boring picture and I wondered why I saved it even though the sky was a very nice blue.  I began to play with the color and ended up turning the sunny day into an overcast one.  After playing with some textures, merging two more shots with the first I ended up with an image of a little girl walking along a beach ready to collect shells.  It reminded me of Andrew Wyeth’s painting “Christina’s World” although it was not anything near the caliber of the master!  When I look at that picture now, I know it has individual layers, but the overall image has a unity to it that makes them one.  And that is how I see the Lord working in both the layers of Isaiah’s prophecy and the layers of my life.

            Isaiah’s ministry takes place at a critical juncture in the national life of Israel.  King Uzziah has died after sitting on the throne for 52 years.  In spite of some personal missteps, Uzziah had been a great leader.  Who would succeed him and would they continue to serve the people wisely by following the ways of the Lord?  A new layer was about to be added to the history of Israel.  Sadly, Ahaz was the exact opposite of Uzziah.  Isaiah arrives on the scene to declare that judgment is certain for the wayward king (Is. 7:17) but that there is also hope for the faithful because a future king will serve in faithfulness and with justice (Is. 11:1-5).  These two themes of judgment and a restored kingdom under a descendant of David are viewed like slides in a projector.  In many ways they appear to be in order but sometimes they seem mixed.  At times they seem to have been fulfilled (such as when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B. C.), but at other times (such as under the godly leadership of Hezekiah, Ahaz’s successor) the fulfillment seems to fall a little bit short.  Hezekiah, like all the other kings before him died, which is a far cry from the eternal descendant of David who is promised in Is. 9:2-11. Not only did the prophet live during the reigns of three of Israel’s better-known kings (Is. 1:1; Uzziah-Is. 6:1, Ahaz- Is. 7:1-12, and Hezekiah- Is. 37:1-7), the Lord also revealed to him three distinct “servants” (Cyrus- Is. 44:28; 45:1, the nation of Israel- Is. 41:8-9; 44:1-3; 49:3, and the Servant of the Lord- 42:18-22; 49:5-6; 53:11) and the previously mentioned messages of judgment (Is. 2:12; 3:13, etc.) and restoration (Is. 40:1-2; 54:4-8; 61:1-9, etc.) given to the people of his day (which in turn is meant for us too).  Like the phases we pass through in life, Isaiah notes that history, individuals or nations, and God’s unfailing character also pass through phases.  Life, and particularly time, writes Isaiah, is layered.

            Isaiah saw his world as a composite.  It was made up of layers from the present, the not so distant future and a future farther off than he could imagine.  Some of his layers we can see as we look over the course of Israel’s history.  From the nation’s humble beginnings as a small family of wandering shepherds to a massive group of people who became a more unified nation while they wandered through the wilderness looking for a Promised Land, Isaiah sees each phase as a point along a journey which has a glorious end and whose purpose is to bring glory to the Lord (Is. 4:2; 60-62).  While my photographic composite of “The Shell Seeker” is fictional, Israel’s is not.

            It is not hard to see life in layers the older you get.  It’s not so easy to see them when you’re younger.  Like my “Shell Seeker” image, I consist of layers shaped and worked by my Creator to make a picture which brings Him glory just as Israel’s composite was meant to bring God glory (Is. 2:1-4).  In fact every life, not just mine, is a composite with its own layers that tell a story (Eph. 2:8-10).  Faith involves seeing all of those layers in your composite with a glorious end in view in the same fashion it was revealed to Isaiah regarding Israel (1 Cor. 13:12).  So, while I may not be able to  see all the layers at work in my life just yet, knowing the Lord is shaping my life that way is one of the best lessons I’ve learned about photography, faith and the art of seeing.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.

https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing # 22
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.

            Bonnie Lusted never reached the celebrity of Ansel Adams but she made a greater impact on me than Ansel did- although I truly admire his work.  I had joined an on-line photo site as a means to take my mind off the loss of my teaching position.  As I became more involved with the site I was also introduced to photographers all over the world.  Bonnie was one of those photographers.  One day she posted a picture of an onion which had been sliced through the middle.  Instead of taking the shot with the onion center stage and sitting on a plate, Bonnie had come in tight and close so that what you saw was the curved lines of the layers and the color of the skin in an organic curved pattern.  In that one shot Bonnie taught me to look carefully at the simple but mundane things around me.  They were hidden pieces of art waiting to be captured by the camera.  Thanks to Bonnie, that trait became a signature of many of my photos.  Adams may have impacted thousands, but Bonnie was the photographer who most impacted me.  I may have never seen an actual portrait of her, but I clearly saw Bonnie in every picture she took.

            If there was ever a Biblical figure who was concerned about leaving a legacy or making an impact on his world, that person would be Solomon.  1 Kings 4:29-34 records that God gave Solomon an immense amount of wisdom and practical knowledge.  In this passage the writer acknowledges Solomon’s prolific amount of acumen by recording that he spoke 3,000 proverbs and composed over 1,000 songs that covered topics such as trees and animals as accurately as a botanist or zoologist.  The bulk of the Scriptures that we attribute to wisdom, Proverbs, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes were penned by him.  But does Solomon’s lasting portrait, his legacy, always depict him as a wise person?  Sadly it does not.

            What began as a life dedicated to following God’s ways and seeking His guidance to lead the people of Israel gave way to the influence of his culture when he married foreign wives to secure the kingdom.  In spite of God’s warning, (1 Kin. 9:1-9) over the course of time Solomon appears to have accumulated as many wives and concubines as the proverbs he wrote and the Biblical writers are quick to point out that these alliances caused Solomon to make compromises in order to appease the women he collected (1 Kin. 11:1-13).  His change of heart and attitude are the most obvious in the book of Ecclesiastes- a poetical book which is attributed to him in the latter years of his life.  Gone is the hopefulness and trust of his youth and in its stead is an almost bitter and caustic appraisal of life and what people traditionally value as a means to a happy and blessed existence but in the end fall short of providing either.  It is a rather grim portrait of a man who started his rule with such high expectations.

            Solomon may be one of the grander individuals to cross the pages of Scripture but there is a figure in Scripture who has made an even greater impact on me not by what she said, but in what she did.  Dorcas is first introduced to us as a “certain disciple” (Acts 9:36-42).  Dorcas is set forth as an example of what a true disciple looks like and the effect a disciple can make in the lives of those around them.  There is no picture of her social status or family, or even her means of income (as compared to Lydia in Acts 16:14).  The picture is left obscure on purpose so that her life-style is highlighted not her life.
            It is a sobering thought that the way we live is a portrait of Christ to a world that does not know Him.  But the portrait of Dorcas in Acts 9 demonstrates to us that sharing the Gospel does not always involve words.  This is illustrated in the well-known Parable of the Sheep and Goats in which Christ tells His disciples that there will be a sorting of sorts at the end of the age (Mt. 25:31-46).  Keith Green masterfully retold the parable in song finishing with this succinct but accurate summary of Christ’s words, “And my friends, the only difference between the sheep and the goats according to this Scripture is what they did and didn’t do!”  How do we make sure we are an accurate portrait of Christ?  Solomon wrote, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person” (Ecc. 12:13).  Dorcas lived this and made a difference.  The way she lived out God’s commands reminds us that you and I may be the only portrait of Christ that someone sees.  What does that portrait look like?

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Photography, Faith, and the Art of Seeing #21
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            Our granddaughter Leigh was known as a “rule-bender” in her early days.  She’s always been very competitive and like most children she didn’t like losing.  So if there was even the slightest hint that she might lose whatever game she was playing, she’d change the rules midstream to give herself the advantage.  I’m not sure why people in general have a tough time sticking to the rules and constantly try to bend them.  Maybe we have difficulties with rules because of a selfish nature or the impression that the world revolves around what we want, what we think, and how we think life should always go the way we’ve planned it.  The current climate of our culture certainly feeds that point of view.  Although I think this aversion to rules goes much deeper.  I think it goes all the way back to the Fall.  At some point in that pristine garden Adam and Eve, much like Leigh, decided they didn’t like God’s rule so that when the Serpent suggested an alternative “rule”, they exercised their will and broke the God-given one.  The boundaries set by rules are not limited to life.  In life they work as a guide for successful living- both physically and mentally.  In art they work to give a picture a sense of balance and produce a thoughtful experience. 

            The most well-known of these “rules” is The Rule of Thirds.  This compositional standard applies to every visual format; not just photography.  The Rule of Thirds evenly divides your picture into nine squares by overlaying an imaginary grid of two horizontal and two vertical lines on the picture plane.  According to the rule placing your subject at any one of the four spots where the lines intersect will have more visual appeal to your viewer than if you placed your subject in the center of one of the squares produced by the lines of the grid.  Some of the most innovative and creative photographers follow compositional rules like the Rule of Thirds but their skill makes this basic rule virtually unnoticeable.  Instead of stifling the creative process compositional rules support your creativity.  They enhance creativity rather than hinder it much like “life rules” protect rather than restrict the ability to live life to its fullest.

            I have the pleasure of belonging to two photographic communities- my local photo club and an on-line site (365project.org) which has participants from all over the world.  The idea of this site is to post a picture each day- a photographic diary of your life.  It always seems that when someone decides to “break the rules” on 365 they are compelled to apologize for this decision whereupon another photographer will offer these encouraging words to release them of their “guilt”, “Don’t worry!  It’s your project; your rules! Do what works best for you.”  That may work for The 365 Project, but it doesn’t work with God.  God’s rules, as presented in Leviticus and Deuteronomy are fixed and everlasting, but that doesn’t mean they cannot be adapted to life.  The pithy sayings of Proverbs help to demonstrate a number of ways the laws listed in Leviticus and Deuteronomy can be applied to life.  Through short and direct wording they sum up a truth based on experience and observation.  The main thrust of these witty sayings is for the hearer to acquire wisdom.  According to the Bible, wisdom is the necessary skill that one must have in order to live a godly life and to make godly choices (Prov. 2:1-6).  Proverbs are an effective teaching tool just like the Rule of Thirds is a great asset to a picture.  Even Jesus used them (Mt. 2:27; 6:21; 7:13).

            I have discovered that I am much better at following a plan or routine when I want to accomplish a goal and I’m better off making a list of what I need to accomplish if I want to get anything completed around my home.  I think I like the “black and white” aspect of those self-imposed rules.  But there are days when I have to adjust my routine or alter my list because “life” is not always on the same schedule as I am!  I have to make decisions based on what is feasible and what is necessary so that I’m pleased with the way things turned out at the end of the day.  This is true in the artistic sense as well just as it is with faith.  Deciding the right placement of my subject is like deciding what will be most God-honoring in the way I live.  Just as the rules of composition enhance the beauty of a picture, making wise decisions in favor of God’s rules enhances rather than inhibits life (1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17).  Proverbs illustrates that my best decisions will always favor on the side of the “rules”.  Photographically speaking, Proverbs is the way your life picture looks with the Rule of Thirds in action (Prov. 2:1-22).
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.

https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            It happens to every photographer.  You choose the location- one that you’ve never been to before and will probably never get to again.  You check the weather.  You save the date.  But when you arrive at your scenic location on that chosen day, the sun has decided not to cooperate after all and the sky is gray and filled with clouds.  Should you give up, pack your gear and call it a day?  Absolutely not!  The unexpected weather provides a different photo opportunity.  It’s simply a matter of adjusting the type of photo you’d planned to take to the type of photo you can take.  A good photographer will select a genre suitable to the scene before him/her instead of abandoning a shot because the weather does not suit the shot which was planned ahead of time.  A genre is a category of artistic composition (mostly in the arts such as literature, music, and of course photography) which is characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.  A concise list compiled by Craig Hull on Expertphotography.com had 47 genres that included favorites such as black and white, macro, fine art, infrared, landscapes and wildlife.

            When you read through the Book of Psalms it’s obvious that they too fall into categories (i.e. genres).  The overall book is like a collection of musical pieces, but instead of one composer, there are several and only the lyrics have survived.  The Book of Psalms can be divided into five smaller collections: Book 1 (Ps. 1-41), Book 2 (Ps. 42-72), Book 3 (Ps.73-89), Book 4 (Ps. 90-106), and Book 5 (Ps. 107-150).  Within these collections are psalms that recognize God’s sovereignty, talk about the trials and struggles of life and present a new outlook on life after a tumultuous ordeal.  A noteworthy aspect of the Psalms is that although many psalms are addressed to God and cover a number of life experiences, some are directed toward the people, meaning that these songs, as well as the struggles of life, were to be experienced within the worship community.

            There have certainly been times in my life when I would have preferred to see the picture I was expecting to see rather than to switch genres and learn to see a different kind of beauty in the view before me.  I am not sure when I was first introduced to the words of Psalm 90:12, but I know I was in my teens.  What intrigued me about this psalm at the time was the idea that days could be “numbered”.  But something struck a chord within my soul and from that time on I understood that life was precious and unpredictable.  Now years later as I ponder the idea of genres as an approach to life I’m seeing that this has been the way I have operated for a long time.  I think of how Jeff and I “planned” to have children after we’d been married 5 years.  That didn’t happen- we became parents much sooner!  But the two unexpected gifts of our sons have filled my life with such joy and even more so now that they have children of their own.  Grandchildren- I never imagined I’d have 6 of them when Erick was born!  I think about how my plans to become a librarian were cut short by the birth of my second son but how bartering for his education in a small Christian school placed me in charge of the school’s library and made me an amateur librarian!  I think about how a phone call to a radio show which aired on Saturday mornings from a college campus ended up putting me on the air with a third-class radio license in hand filling in for the DJ I called when he was in a serious car accident.  I think about how an advertisement in a magazine called “Israel My Glory” led me to a year of studies which I still refer to as “my year of heaven” and my first trip to Israel.  I think about one friend’s love of travel which enabled me to travel from one side of the country to the other and all the traveling adventures I shared with my sons as one of the original “soccer moms” back in their school days.  I think about a job in a Christian Bookstore that led me to a seminary degree and how the love of a dear friend sent me soaring in a hot air balloon one year- a bucket list dream I never expected to happen at all came true thanks to her.  I hadn’t planned on a lot of these events but when the view wasn’t what I’d planned for, shifting the genre brought me some of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had.  My days have been numbered in ways I never counted on, but with every shift of genre life has taught me to keep my eyes fixed on the One who is the Author and Perfecter of my faith and helped me to recognize He has put these events in my life so that I can more clearly see Him (Heb. 12:1-2).

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing #19
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.

            While a tripod may not be human it is certainly one of the photographer’s best friends.  Laurence Noah, a photography blogger, listed 10 useful purposes for this trusty photographic side-kick which included things like holding the camera steady during long exposure shots and landscapes.  I would add two more from my own experience.  The tripod is oftentimes more sure and steady than even the most rock solid hand-held shot, and when you attach a remote shutter to your camera the tripod allows you to step away from it so that you can capture elusive subjects like birds.  It may not be as devoted as a human friend can be, but it’s just as dependable.

            If you’re looking for the qualities and traits of a good friend on the internet you won’t have trouble finding them.  Lists contain anywhere from 7 to 44 different characteristics with traits such as trustworthy, honest, a good listener, supportive in good and bad times, able to find humor in life and the ability to express empathy in times of need.  Sadly, the man who needed friends the most in his time of trouble, Job, had so-called friends who sorely lacked in many of these areas.  Chapter 2 of Job opens with the arrival of three of Job’s friends who have supposedly come to offer him support after calamity has struck.  If these three had truly come to offer sympathy and comfort, it was never recorded!  The long-winded speeches of Job’s friends in chapters 3 through 37 contain perfectly logical arguments constructed to prove the common belief that suffering equaled sin.  Rather than comfort their words were literally salt poured on Job’s open wounds.  But instead of accepting the usual explanation, “you’re getting what you deserve”, Job demonstrates that suffering actually reveals how truly godly one is as they bear the unbearable and seek the comfort of God in the midst of their trial.

            Other Bible passages have some things to say about friendship too.  Some of the most telling verses about what makes someone a good friend come out of the Book of Proverbs.   Proverbs informs us that a friend loves at all times (17:17), watches what they say (7:4; 16:28), is not a “fair weather friend” but sticks “closer than a brother” (18:24), speaks the truth in love (27:6) rather than using the flattery of a deceptive enemy, offers “sweet” counsel in their words (27:9), comes to your aid because they want to not because they have to (27:10) and doesn’t make a show of themselves (27:14).  Two other verses stand out in the New Testament.  Jesus described how a friend responds when there is a persistent need in your life (Lk. 11:5-8) and taught that the greatest form of friendship is the setting aside of one’s own needs for that of another (Jn. 15:13).

            Perhaps the most tumultuous time in a person’s life is the early teen years.  The choice of one’s friends in those hormonally charged years is truly critical.  The right kind of friends make you feel like you matter in spite of what goes on in school or at home.  The wrong friends tend to encourage poor choices and get you into trouble.  Unfortunately you have to learn the difference between these two the hard way.   At least I did!  But the Lord in His providence allowed me to realize my poor choice in one particular “friend” before it was too late.  “Mary” came from a broken home and was often left to her own devices.  Now many years later I can see that her behavior was probably a cry for help.  But I got sucked into that behavior for a short time and I’m not proud to say, followed her exactly UNTIL we were almost caught.  It scared me so much that I finally listened to my conscience and stopped.  The friendship died almost immediately when Mary saw that I would no longer participate with her.   If Mary was a tripod she was a cheap, shoddy, knock-off of one of the top brands.  She initially gave the impression of being a friend but the materials by which she was made were unreliable and substandard.

            Although she was not a good friend she taught me an invaluable lesson on the traits and qualities of someone who is.  Job’s friends fell short of the Biblical model of friendship in every way just like Mary did.  But they also teach us about what to look for in true friends just like Mary taught me.  The tripod is a good illustration for what a true friend does.  Its sturdy design and the abilities it has to improve one’s pictures reminds us that true friends are a great support and help us to be what God truly intends for us to be.  So if you’re in the market for a true friend, think “tripod”!

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.

https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Ready for the Road Ahead ~ Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing #18
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.

            When I was a little girl the only thing I liked about going to the dentist’s office were the magazines which he had in the waiting room.  At the back of every issue was a “Hidden Picture” puzzle.  These graphic illustrations depicted a scene which at first glance seemed to be a fairly ordinary picture.  But hidden within those scenes were a collection of objects that were cleverly blended into the picture such as a toothbrush, a flower or a hammer.  A pictoral list would be posted underneath the picture and it was fun to search for the hidden items by studying the list and then carefully looking at every inch of that picture! I think those puzzles may have developed my photographic eye long before I even picked up a camera simply by making me take a long look at the picture before me.  Sometimes seeing God at work in our lives is like searching for those hidden pictures.  He is hidden in the picture of our life and we have to look very carefully to find Him.

            Seeing God at work in the events of the Book of Esther is one of the Bible’s greatest hidden pictures.  Many have noted that it hardly contains anything “religious” at all with the exception of fasting (Est. 4:15-17).  On the other hand the “Hidden God” of Esther also seems deliberate.  Esther falls in the literary genre of wisdom literature which teaches a spiritual truth through parables, repetition, word patterns and you guessed it, hidden pictures in the words!  Such is the case in Esther’s poetic invitation asking the king and Haman to a luncheon in her palatial suite (Est. 5:8).  Sadly you cannot see it in English, but in Hebrew when the lines of Esther’s request are lined up properly one can easily see the four Hebrew letters that compose the name Yahweh.  It’s literary hint that God is at work in the Persian Empire in spite of the evil intentions of Haman.  When Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews is discovered by Mordecai, he literally mourns over the coming destruction of the Jewish people outside the palace gate.  The Persian Court looked down upon any display of negative emotions within the palace, but word reaches Esther that Mordecai is putting on quite a display.  A dialogue ensues between the two which ends with a challenge from Mordecai which also contains a guarded reference to the Lord (Est. 4:1-13).  Mordecai’s use of “another place” is used at other times and in other sources to attribute something to a Divine Being (Est. 4:1-13).

            I would like to say I’ve mastered the ability to see with eyes of faith in any given situation.  I would also like to say there is a formula, a quick “how to” process that will enable you to see as some of those aforementioned heroes saw their situations.  But I can’t.  Just as it takes time to develop the ability to see pictures in uncommon or less than perfect situations, it takes time to recognize when God is working in the background to bring about His prefect will (Phil. 4:11-13). 

            I’m not sure who first discovered the Great Horned Owl and her nest in the Sycamore tree.  I certainly wouldn’t have looked for an owl nest in a tree by a parking lot but it when you looked at the tree it was obvious why it was chosen.  Someone really knew what to look for because Mrs. O really blended in with the tree bark.  When it comes to my faith I’d like to be that kind of tracker.  I’d like to be able to look at issues and circumstances in my life and say, “Oh, that’s the Lord doing this,” or, “That’s the Lord doing that”.  But more often than not I struggle to see what God is doing until well after the event is over.  For those tracking the work of God in the days of Esther it may have seemed to be a tricky job for a while.  He appeared to be hidden from view in everything just like His name is hidden in Esther’s book.  Haman and his supporters appeared to have the upper hand.  They even manipulated the king into making a disastrous decree against the Jewish people (Est. 3:7-15).  However God had the component of deliverance from that decree hidden away in the king’s harem (of all places!) and in His perfect timing deliverance was attained (Est. 8:1-17).  Our lives will always seem to be filled with hidden pictures, those places where God is at work but we can’t see Him.  Our faith will be stretched as we cling to “the assurance of things hoped for; the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).  But like those picture puzzles in the magazines at the dentist’s office, the challenge of discovering where He is at work is a fun exercise in learning to see.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre
 

Ready for the Road Ahead ~ Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing 17
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            I do not consider myself a portrait photographer but every now and then I will see a person and their face will capture my attention and I in turn capture them in my camera.  I was wandering around the farmer’s market one Saturday and discovered some young musicians playing a lovely classical piece.  While all of them were very talented one girl was fascinating to watch.  I didn’t want to be obvious but I had to get a picture of her.  While I would not put myself in the company of photographers like Steve McCurry or Dorothea Lange, I was pleased with the result of my inconspicuous attempt at portraiture.

            If photographers were around in the days of the Bible I wonder what the portraits of the people written about would look like?  While we do not have physical images to hold in our hands or view on the wall, we do have word pictures recorded for us across its pages.  I think that one of the most compelling portraits might be that of Nehemiah who served as the cupbearer in the court of King Artaxerxes I (464-424 B. C.).  Persian monarchs were known to turn a blind eye to any misery, disaster, sorrow or pain in the people surrounding them.  The first aspect of Nehemiah’s portrait that we see is his demeanor and love towards Jerusalem. News had reached Nehemiah of the poor conditions in the city.  Nehemiah was heartbroken and spent many days fasting and praying before the Lord seeking an answer to the situation (some have estimated this was a period of about four months!).  Nehemiah cannot hide his sorrow and when the king sees it, he fears he has broken protocol and will be punished for it (Neh. 2:2).

            A second aspect of Nehemiah’s portrait emerges as he begins the daunting task of rebuilding the wall.  He inspires the people with the testimony of how he came to Jerusalem (2:11-20) and to further the actual completion of the wall Nehemiah divides it into sections assigning them to the people who live closest to each part that needs repair (Neh. 3).  Nehemiah’s enemies do their best to undermine and stop the work so to further insure the wall is completed Nehemiah arms the workers with weapons so that if they are attacked they will be able to defend themselves (Neh. 4:21-23).  Nehemiah is decisive, thorough and aggressive in both the construction of the wall and spiritual reforms.   The third aspect of Nehemiah’s portrait is his devotion.  When a problem arises he is immediately in prayer (Neh. 1:5-11; 2:4; 4:4-5; 6:9, 14).  He set a personal example of the commitment he demanded (5:14-18).  When one is this devoted it is a guarantee that opposition will arise.  It did for Nehemiah in the form of three powerful men: Sanballat, the governor of Samaria, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab. They were three powerful opponents but they were no match for the devotion of one man who was intent on pleasing God (Neh. 5:19; 13:14, 22, 31).

            Nehemiah’s portrait may not have been captured on film but the words used to describe him have the same effect.  Wherever we “see” him in Scripture, whether it’s in the court of Artaxerxes or examining the progress of the wall in Jerusalem, we see the same attributes over and over again: a love for God and for Jerusalem, a passion to wholly serve a Holy God, bold and aggressive leadership that gets the job done and stares down opponents, and a solid foundation of prayer to stay the course and complete the task at hand.  After learning about Nehemiah it would be easy to think we’re exempt from living in the same fashion because we don’t find ourselves in a similar situation.  But would thinking that Nehemiah’s story is just a collection of historical facts and not applicable to us be true?  I don’t think so. 

            The Bible often reminds us that we live as aliens and sojourners in this world, that it is not our home and our citizenship is in heaven (Ps. 39:12; Jn. 18 :36; 2 Cor. 5:1; Phil. 3:20; 1 Pet. 2:11).  We are also told that Jesus, God’s Son, has sent us into this world with a message (Mt. 10:16; 28:18-20; Lk. 10:3; Jn. 20:21; Acts 1:8; 5:32; 2 Cor. 5:20; Eph. 1:13-14; 1 Jn. 1:5) but that we will be met with opposition in spite of the Good News we have to share (Mk. 10:28-30; Jn. 15:19; Eph. 6:12; 2 Tim. 3:1, 13).  Although we may face opposition and even persecution from the enemies of the Cross, God has equipped us with the Holy Spirit so that we can accomplish all the tasks He has called us to do (Jn. 14:16, 25-27; Phil. 4:11-13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).  How we go about living for Christ and sharing the Good News is not only a testimony to Christ at work in us, but also inspirational to those who need to hear the message or be encouraged by our personal story (Eph. 2:1-10; Phil. 2:14-16; Heb. 12:1-2).  The evidence is compelling.  You and I face the same challenges as Nehemiah even though we are in a different time and place.  So, what does my portrait say about me?   What does yours say about you?
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.

https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Ready for the Road Ahead ~ Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing 16

This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            My grandparents named the house “Pandy”.  I thought it was one of the most magical places on earth.  It was elegant, hidden behind a row of Boxwoods and Cedars, lushly green, refined and even mysterious.  On one of our visits I found myself alone upstairs staring at the attic door.  Did I dare go up the stairs?  It was a dark passageway but I could see light at the top of the stairs from an attic window.  I took a few tentative steps- just enough to get a glimpse of the room.  I never forgot how intriguing it looked but I never tried to go up there again either.  That little adventure always seemed to be indicative of my Hoster-Jones heritage.  I didn’t know much about it other than the stories I was told and even then it was hard to verify if those stories were accurate.  It wasn’t until my adulthood that I had a more concrete connection to my mother’s forbearers.  My aunt called to ask if I could come help her close up the house.  There was a massive amount of paperwork to sort through and years’ worth of “stuff” to send off to new homes.  One day my aunt sent me up into the attic with the instructions, “Go through the pictures and whatever else is up there and take what you want.  I don’t want any of it.”  When I look through those pictures now, I’m struck by the fact that they record a lineage I know very little about. 

            When your family history is disjointed like mine, there are all kinds of unanswered questions.  In the days of Ezra one’s genealogy was important in determining family lines.  Although it may not seem important to us, the detailed genealogies in the beginning of Chronicles are tied into a promise that has eternal implications and it begins all the way back in the early chapters of Genesis.  After the Fall of man God states that there will be one particular encounter where the offspring of Eve will be wounded by the serpent but that her descendant will crush the head of the serpent literally killing him (Gen. 3:15).  The promise becomes more in focus with the words spoken by Jacob to Judah on his deathbed (Gen. 49:8-12, especially v. 10).  Hidden among all those names in the second chapter of Chronicles is the descendant that fulfills Jacob’s prophecy and God’s promise- David (1 Chr. 2:13).  But the promise goes further when Nathan the prophet tells David that God has said, “Your house and your kingdom will endure before Me; your throne will be established forever.” (2 Sam. 7:16).  We all know that no person can live forever.  We all experience the death of someone we love at some point in life.  So how can this be?  Is there really a descendant of David who has done this?  We find the answer in a genealogy and specifically the genealogy of Jesus Christ.  Both Matthew (Mt. 1:1-17) and Luke (Lk. 3:23-37) note Jesus’ genetic connections to Judah and David (Mt. 1:2, 6, 16; Lk. 3:23, 31, 33).  But earthly lineage does not a fulfilled promise make.  No instead it is something that must done and witnessed.  It must be seen as clearly as a set of steps in the noon-day sun not like the black and dusty stairwell of Pandy.  And it was!

            The aftermath of the crucifixion was a terrible time for the disciples and those who loved and followed Jesus.  While they had listened to His words and believed Him they did not fully comprehend what they meant (Mt. 12:38-41; 16:1-4; Lk. 29-32) so it was with heavy hearts they went to the tomb after the holy days had passed in order to complete Jesus’ burial (Lk. 24:1-12).  But instead of seeing what they expected to see- a physical body needing its final preparations- they were greeted by “two men whose garments gleamed like lightning”.  “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” they were questioned.  “He is not here.  He is risen!”  Jesus had told Pilate His kingdom was not of this world (Jn. 18:36).  His resurrection proved He was the descendant of David and Judah who had come to reign eternally (Heb. 1:1-12- see vv. 8, 12).

            I do know some of my ancestry through my mother.  Like those first lines of Chronicles I can recite my parentage- at least for a few generations.  Judah’s ancestry was extremely accurate and thorough.  My family line is probably only important to me but the names of Judah’s offspring were written down for all eternity because all eternity rested on a future descendant promised by God through Jacob to Judah within Jacob’s deathbed blessing.   There are thousands of names written in the Bible.  They stand as a testimony that the Bible is about real people in real places but as it is with human flesh most of their lines of ancestry will come to an end.  When all is said and done only one lineage remains intact for all eternity and truly that is the only one that matters.

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Ready for the Road Ahead ~ Photography, Faith, and the Art of Seeing 15
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            They say a picture’s worth a thousand words.  But the spoken words of one generation to the next were even more important in the Bible.  There are numerous records of fathers’ last words to their sons and leaders sharing their final thoughts with their people such as Jacob’s departing words to his 12 sons (Gen. 49) and Moses’ farewell speech at the border of the Promised Land (Ex. 33:1-34:8).  The Book of Proverbs also contains many admonitions to sons to continue to follow their father’s instructions and the Lord’s commands (Pr. 1:8, 10, 15; 2:1; 3:1;11:4; 4:10, 20; 5:1, 7; 6: 1, 3, 20 and more!).  If you were to survey most parents I’m sure the reason for this would be evident.  No parent wants to see their children make the same mistakes they did.  They hope that what they learned from those mistakes will be put to good use by their children.  They also want to see their children avoid the fall-out from their mistakes a sentiment expressed by the Lord Himself when He brought the Law to Moses (Ex. 34:6-7). 

            When you look at the monarchy in the Book of Kings it becomes very apparent as to how important this is and it makes the words of wisdom passed on from David to Solomon even more powerful- a picture whose thousands words are worth as many ounces of gold when it comes to passing on lessons learned from life to the next generation (Prov. 25:11).  Iain Provan said it this way, “The Book of Kings is not only a narrative about the past.  It is also a narrative that seeks to teach its readers a number of things about God and His ways.  That is, the Book of Kings tells us about Israel’s past, not so that we should become better informed about it in some abstract intellectually detached way, but so that we should learn from it (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11).”  Simply put David’s words (and many others’ as well) seem not only to be recorded for Solomon but for us too. 

            It is interesting to note that as David imparts his final words to Solomon he draws heavily upon the Lord’s admonition to Joshua when he assumes the mantle of leadership from Moses ( Be strong: 1 Kin. 2:2; Jos. 1:6-7, 9; Follow the Lord: 2 Kin. 2:3; Jos. 1:7; A total commitment: 2 Kin. 2:4; Jos. 1:3).   The reason for doing so is so that Solomon will prosper as king and the Lord will keep His promise to David (2 Kin. 2:3-4; Jos. 1:3; Dt. 9:5; 29:9; 2 Sam. 7:11-16).  In short David’s final words to Solomon can be divided into three segments:  What to do (vv. 1-3); Why you must do it (v. 4); and some personal requests concerning people who either helped David or opposed him during his tenure as king (vv. 5-9).  David’s “thousand words” are a picture of a life well-lived because it is completely lived for the Lord.

            I often think of my father in this respect.  He wasn’t one to specifically talk about living God’s way but you could see it in everything he did.  The week before my father died I was able to spend a lot of time with him.  Parkinson’s Disease had slowly taken over his earthly body but the father I knew and loved was still housed in that “war-torn” shell.  He slept a lot and speaking sapped him of strength so I let him rest.  I spent a lot of time remembering the things we had done together and many of the things he had done for me like building a doll house from a picture in a toy catalog, traveling to West Virginia to check out colleges because that’s where I wanted to go and the way he had stood by my mother when she struggled with alcoholism. There are many final addresses out there in cyber-world but most of us will not remember people by what they said, rather we will remember them by what they did.  David recognized that words only have authenticity if they are lived out in our lives.   In other words, our words must match the picture- that is they must agree with what people see.  My father’s words matched his picture.

            The questions before me today is, “How do I want to be remembered?    What do I want my picture to look like?”  I want my thousand words to be a reflection of Christ and a tribute to both Him and the earthly father who exemplified His love.  I want to take David’s admonitions to Solomon and apply them to my own life as I live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.  I want my picture to be like that of my father’s; one whose words picture humor, ingenuity, unselfish love, perseverance, grace in the midst of disappointment and struggle.  I want to walk alongside the great heroes of the Faith in Hebrews 11 when I am remembered by my family and those who follow after me.  And with the Lord’s help that is exactly what my picture will say (Rom. 8:26-29; Phil. 4:13).
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.

https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

Ready for the Road Ahead ~ Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing 14
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            Genes, like history, have a fascinating way of repeating themselves.  I am often reminded of this when I comb through the pictures of my family.  I had taken a picture of my grandson Micah playing out in the yard with a soccer ball.  He loves to boot it around and run after it to kick it once again.  I caught a shot of him lined up to connect with his target and something about his posture triggered a memory.  When I got home I pulled out a picture of his father Christopher doing the same thing and (you guessed it) they looked identical!  I’ve seen this played out dozens of times and not just in regards to fathers and sons.  It happens with sisters, daughters, mothers, aunts, uncles and ancestors too.  I’m not sure how these things get recorded and codified into our genetic make-up but I know it’s there because I’ve seen it in my photos.  The Bible recognizes patterns are a part of life too (Ps. 19:1-6; Ecc. 3:1-2).  But perhaps even more important are the patterns set forth within in families.  

            As the Bible moves from the period of the Judges to the time of settlement several figures and their sons emerge in the center of the story who are the epitome of pattern makers and pattern breakers.  The first two figures are Eli the High Priest and Samuel, the last judge of Israel.  While Samuel was imposing and a force to be reckoned with Eli was a weak and ineffective High Priest but neither of them produced sons that were worthy to carry on the office of their father.  Highlights of Eli’s story can be found here: 1 Sam. 1:1-20; 2:12-36; 4:1-11 and Samuel’s can be found here: 1 Sam. 3:1-21; 8:1-5.  Two fathers, two similar patterns; sadly each ending in death.  The morally corrupt condition of Samuel’s sons actually helps to perpetuate the people’s desire for a king.  But a king is no guarantee that your leadership will be better.  In fact Saul and David prove an interesting point.  Saul was the popular choice of the people but his character traits were questionable (1 Sam. 9:1-2; 10:20-24).  David was popular as well and had a stronger moral fiber within (1 Sam. 16:12; 17:33-36;42; Ps. 108:1; 138:1).  One would think David’s children would follow a pattern of greatness like David and Saul’s children would follow the disappointing pattern of their father Saul.  If we were to apply the statistics of today, we’d be correct. But that is not what happened!  David’s children were a mess.  One of David’s sons even tried to murder his father and take the throne (2 Sam. 15:18; 16:5-12).  Somewhere in their genetic code David’s “heart” was lost on his children.  That was not the case with Saul’s son Jonathan.  If anything he is the complete opposite of his father.  He was loyal, smart and faithful not only to his friend, the future king, David (1 Sam. 18:1-5) but also to his father even when Saul was plotting to destroy David.  In the end Jonathan gave his life in service to his father, who also died in the same battle (1 Sam. 31:1-6), foreshadowing in a small way another Son who would also give His life in service to His Father (Jn. 8:28; Gal. 1:4; Phil. 2:8).

            Sometimes I look at a photo and feel the pattern is appealing, but every once and a while I see a pattern in a photo I’m creating and think, “This pattern needs to be broken”.   Breaking an artistic pattern is as simple as turning one object a different way or playing with the size, shape, color or lines of our subject.   Breaking life patterns requires us to first recognize the unhealthy pattern and then determine how to change it.  Thankfully we can look at a Biblical person like Jonathan and see that this kind of change is possible.  Perhaps even more convincing is the succession of kings in Judah.  Take a look at these 4 generations and see what you think (2 Kin. 18-21; 21:1-18, 19-26; 22:1-23:27).

            I think it’s sad that many believers never read the Old Testament.  It is filled with stories like this that offer such hope.  You may have a pattern in your life that you’re under the impression you’re destined to follow.  But Josiah would tell you that is not the case!  If we are seeing life through the viewfinder of faith, we know it is completely possible to break a pattern.  There is a Helper who has all the tools we need to do so (Jn. 14:6, 26) and thanks to Him we are a completely new person (2 Cor. 5:17).  Christ is in the business of pattern breaking.  Just ask the Samaritan woman or the woman caught in adultery how Christ can change a life sunk in an unhealthy pattern (Jn. 4:1-42; 8:1-11).  Christ completely changed their individual patterns.  He will do the same for you if you let Him (Rev. 21:5).

Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.

https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre