Photography as an artistic genre has a history replete with great photographers.  Henri Cartier-Bresson was one of them. Cartier-Bresson’s contribution to photographic history became apparent in 1952 when he published his book The Decisive Moment.  The book contained 126 of his photos and in the preface he took note of its inspiration; a quote from Cardinal de Retz, “There is nothing in this world that does not have a decisive moment”.  "Photography is not like painting," Cartier-Bresson told the Washington Post in 1957. "There is a creative fraction of a second when you are taking a picture. Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera. That is the moment the photographer is creative," he said, "That is The Moment! Once you miss it, it is gone forever."  Although my candids are not the caliber of Cartier-Bresson, I do have some of those “decisive moments” among my collection of photographs.  One of my favorites comes from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  It pictures a statue of a dancer by Degas in a relaxed pose, waiting her next turn on the dance floor.  Beyond her and across the hall a man stands in the same way viewing one of the paintings on the wall.  I saw it and took the picture quickly.  Like Cartier-Bresson predicted a moment later he moved on and the scene would have disappeared forever if I had not taken the shot.

            Great leaders have the ability to see and seize the moment like great photographers.  They sense anticipation or need among the people they lead and are able to translate it into action.  That would certainly be the case for Nehemiah.  Nehemiah had three decisive moments recorded in the Biblical book that bears his name.  The first was in response to the report that the walls of Jerusalem were still in ruins (Neh. 1:1-2:8).  The second decisive moment comes after he inspects the wall.  Nehemiah rallies the people and enlists their help by assigning them sections which relate to their specific welfare (Neh. 2:11-4:23).  Even though the people face opposition the wall is finished in a record amount of time (Neh. 6:15).   Nehemiah’s third decisive moment involves rebuilding the people.   It is one thing to make your home secure but a relationship with the Lord has to be the most important part of daily living (8-13).  But Nehemiah is not the first person in Scripture to recognize a decisive moment.  Paul was a man who never missed a decisive moment.  Whether he was speaking before the elite of Athens or a lowly slave girl in Philippi, he took those moments to declare Truth as those people had never heard it before (Acts 16:16-18; 17:16-34).

            I must confess that I am much better at capturing a decisive moment with my camera than I am at capturing moments for the Lord.  But I do have them!  One of those moments occurred while I was on a trip to Greece with my Greek class following the footsteps of Paul.  There is definitely something special about standing in a spot where you know Paul has been.  The Aeropagus (or Mars Hill) is one of those places.  Although it is now only a mound which gives you a spectacular view of the Parthenon, my creative mind was able to picture a gathering of prestigious Greco-Roman leaders debating and discussing the latest philosophies in that beautiful setting.  Enter Paul, the outspoken itinerant preacher to tickle their ears with his take on the beauty of Athens with its shrines and temples to every god in the heavenly realm.  Only to their surprise he focused on a small snippet of history tied into an even smaller altar dedicated to an unknown god!  But even more surprisingly his opinion was that this Unknown God was the ONLY God (Acts 17:23).  Most of them rejected this preposterous idea, but some embraced it and the Gospel moved forward.  After we descended Mars Hill a fellow student and I remained at the foot of the hill for a moment talking about Roman roads and other aspects of the Roman Empire which actually helped the Gospel spread even further.  We were engrossed in our discussion when a young woman approached us.  “Excuse me,” she said with a European accent, “I was listening to some of your conversation and it is really interesting to me. Could you say that again?” 

            Cartier-Bresson promoted the thought that when the camera is raised to your eye and your finger pushes the shutter you have captured a decisive moment- one fleeting second of life that now is frozen permanently in picture form.  Scripture teaches us that decisive moments are presented by God Himself.  It offers us examples in people like Nehemiah and Paul who recognized what God was presenting to them.  When they were offered that decisive moment these men rose to the occasion.  I firmly believe that we too are offered decisive moments throughout our lifetime, both as photographers and as believers.  Am I on the lookout for them?  Are you?  Will I grasp that moment when it comes or let it slip away?  How about you?  Thankfully for me on that sunny day in Athens I followed in the footsteps of Paul.

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

             Suzi and I sat across from one another in the cozy living room.  While we talked she kept her latest crocheting project in her lap and deftly wove the yarn into the beginnings of a baby blanket.  My grandson Isaac was there too, assembling his latest Lego toy; a two-tiered storage station that converted to some sort of robot called a Mek.  Suzi and I just happened to be discussing the creativity of children and how much they have to teach us if we take the time to listen to their insights.  The conversation moved on to how from the moment we’re born each one of us has something inside, a piece of who we are, that is there to be shared with others.  I could tell Isaac was listening even though he seemed focused on his Lego construction.  Then all of a sudden he stood up, Legos partially assembled in his hands, and said, “Hey!  That’s like when you crochet.  God takes the strings and puts them together and the needles are the Holy Spirit and He makes us into a blanket!”  Yes, I know what you’re thinking; my grandson is brilliant! 

            The human body is an amazing “blanket”.  It is made up of 12 “systems” that work together in order for us to live from day to day.  There are also 5 essential organs which we need for survival: the brain, heart, kidneys, liver and lungs.  Our bodily systems and organs are interesting enough but scientists have also determined several amazing facts about the human body as well: there are nearly 100 TRILLION cells in our body, we have almost 10 times the amount of bacteria in our body as we do cells, and the human brain contains about 100 BILLION nerve cells to name a few.  When all this amazing information is taken into account it’s no wonder the psalmist exclaimed to the “Blanket Maker”, “I will give thanks to You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14).

            I usually find myself concurring with the psalmist when I think about the components that make up humans.  Psalm 139 is perhaps the most quoted Scripture when it comes to the amazing human body with its immaterial center.  The psalmist proclaims the Lord has “formed” his “inward parts” in verse 13.    He declares that the Lord wove him together in his mother’s womb.  The image of Suzi’s crocheted blanket fits well here.  Like Suzi and her expert handling of those slender needles and yarn, the Lord has interlocked the very fibers of a person’s being in the safe and sacred place of a mother’s womb (Jb. 10:8, 11).  The Psalmist also declares that the Lord’s approach to the creation of the innermost part of a person is one of reverence (v.14) by proclaiming he is “fearfully” and “wonderfully” made.  The psalmist recognizes his unique journey into existence not from empirical observations but through his “soul”.  This means the psalmist is not acknowledging the Lord’s hand in his creation by what he has seen, it is what he knows in the deepest part of his being- the very part the Lord formed in his mother’s womb.  There is an intrinsic connection in the soul between the created and the Creator, that is, between the blanket and his/her Maker (Prov. 20:27).

            The ancients viewed the inner parts of people as being associated with the essence of who a person was but if you were to write out a word for word translation of several key passages which illustrate this you’d be either confused or amused.  For instance the neck which can be associated with the part of our skeleton which holds up our head and brings air into our lungs as well as food to our stomach thus connecting it to our very ability to live, can also be associated with bringing negative attributes into our character.  It can be deceitful (Ps. 5:9), display arrogance (Is. 3:16), and on the positive side praise God (Ps. 149:6).  Therefore it is important to keep those inner-workings in tip-top shape, i. e. connected to the One who wove them together in the first place.  Paul wrote to the beleaguered Corinthian church that although the outward man might be as slip-shod as an imitation Rolex, the inner man is “renewed by the Spirit”.  He prayed that the believers in Ephesus would be strengthened by the same Spirit in their inner man so that they would understand in the deepest way possible the Lord who loved them (Eph. 3:14-19).  And when Jesus was asked how one could attain eternal life by a man who had been a “Law-abiding citizen” all his life He answered by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5; a passage from that very Law which illustrated that a relationship with our “Blanket Maker” involves total commitment from every part of our being (Lk. 10:25-28).  Most of us have probably met someone who is as phony as a knock-off Rolex, but more importantly it is up to us to make sure we’re not living the same way.  Only the Spirit (the “needles” according to Isaac) can make sure we are woven properly.  The question is, “Are we willing to let Him do that?” (Eph. 4:17-24).

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

            I was about to attend my first photo club meeting and I was a bit nervous.  When I’d gone to the website to find out when and where they met, I learned that this meeting would involve a professional photographer who would look at members’ photos and then offer a critique on how to improve the shot.  I did not have much confidence in myself as a photograph so this was going to be a little rough on the ego. As per the instructions on the website, I sent an email with several images in ahead of time but I purposely sent in pictures I knew were not that good that way I wouldn’t be surprised when the pro pointed out all the things that were wrong with them!  The first photo of mine to appear was one I’d taken of my grandson Micah’s tiny little newborn head cradled in his parents’ hands.  I didn’t like the focus on it but was surprised by the reaction of both the photographer and the audience.  “Wow,” the man said, “That is a powerful picture”.  Murmurs around the room proved most agreed with him.  What should I do now?!  Finally someone in the front row said, “Who took that?!”  Heads started turning around to see who would claim authorship.  “Well, you sure know how to make an entrance!” I thought to myself as I raised my hand and said, “I did”.

            No one likes to have their work critiqued.  It is sometimes tough to hear somewhat negative things about your work.  But the difference between a critique and out-right criticism is that a critique is designed to improve you or your work.  The picture of Micah was not perfect and the pro did have some suggestions on how to improve the contrast which would build on the strength of the picture.  I learned a valuable lesson in that meeting.  The critique might be a little nerve-wracking, but the uneasy feeling of putting your work out on the table is worth it when you learn and grow from it.  I have one photographer friend who likes to enter some of the more competitive competitions in our general area for the same reason.  He never expects his work to receive any of the prizes, but he feels he learns so much from the critiques the judges give as they go through the entries.  I’m not as brave or bold as he is, but I admire his desire to grow and improve as a photographer.

            The process of a critique is not an easy one.  It involves both scrutiny and discernment.  It is not something that comes easily nor is it something that involves little time and effort.  It’s work.  Therefore, if we know our work might be critiqued it’s important we put the research behind it so that it stands up to the test.  As Christians move more and more into the “experiential” realm of their faith, this idea of examining what we see and what we read is less and less popular and because of that there is less and less scholarship in the material that is produced and digested by Christians at large.  The trouble with this trend is that it removes us from any form of critique.  And without critique we might be missing something very important.

            Jesus told a story illustrating one very important moment of critique.  It takes place before the throne of God where all humankind has been gathered to be assessed- the Final Critique.  The Son of Man is the judge and He separates those gathered into two groups.  Some are designated as sheep and others goats.  The detail which divides them is how they recognized and responded to the less fortunate in life.  Did they help those in need, feed those who were hungry, assist the downtrodden?  All of these actions were rooted in the commands of the Law and discussed by the prophets (Lev. 19:10; Dt. 15:11; Jer. 22:16; Mic. 6:6-8).  The sheep have done all of these things as second nature.  They never really analyzed why they did these good deeds, they just knew they needed to be done and did them.  Their response to the forthcoming eternal blessing is one of surprise.  The goats however feel compelled to argue their case.  They did not think that anything needed to be done for “those people” and are surprised that they will not enter the eternal kingdom with the others.  But it’s too late.  They should have known better (Mt. 25:31-46).

            The art of seeing how to improve your photography, whether it is on the technical or the artistic side, involves looking at your work with a discerning eye, understanding the nuances of composition or editing skills that will improve the overall look of your photo, and putting them into practice.  The art of seeing how to improve your walk of faith involves looking at the measuring stick of God's Word and seeing how we stand up to it- not how you’ve experienced it. I have come to understand that although I may not like the process of a critique or even the assessment, I do like the growth it causes in me.  Whether the critique is applied to my art or my heart, the process is a necessary one if I wish to be the best that I can be.

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

            The Luxor Las Vegas Hotel is home to the most intense beam of light in the world.  Using computer designed, curved mirrors to collect the light from 39 xenon lamps and focus them into one intense, narrow beam, engineers say that a person could read a newspaper by Luxor’s Sky Beam from 10 miles up.  On a clear night the 42.3 billion candela beam is visible up to 275 miles away by airplanes at cruising altitude and is an FAA designated navigation landmark for pilots.

            The most intense light I have ever photographed was generated by a clump of burning steel wool.  I had been fascinated by images produced this way so one cold January evening I enlisted several friends from the photo club to join me at a nearby boat landing to attempt some of our own.  I wanted to be near water even though there was snow on the ground because I knew technically we’d be “playing with fire”!  I’d watched several tutorials on Youtube and felt competent enough in the “how to” process that I was sure we’d get some good photographs out of our adventure.  After a few practice runs we all felt confident enough to do the “real thing”.  Once the steel wool is lit in its holder it is swung around in the air like a giant “sparkler”.  The camera records the light at a slow shutter speed and when the image is viewed back all the flying sparks plus the central area of where the steel wool was swinging remain illuminated and clear while the area surrounding the light is pitch black.  The pictures are fascinating and beautiful!

            It’s not surprising to me that many passages of Scripture which describe angels refer to them as a form of intense light.  The first mention of them in this way is the angels which were assigned to guard Eden after Adam and Eve were banned from residing there (Gen. 3:24).  Not only are the cherubim clothed in brilliant light they bear “flaming” swords which literally means swords made of fire.  I have a picture in my mind of Adam and Eve attempting to enter Eden only to be blinded by this intense light like I get blinded by SUV’s with those extremely bright halogen lights set on high beam.  They instantly raise their hands to protect their eyes.  Several Scriptures where angels and humans meet record a similar effect upon humans who encounter angels in their heavenly state (Ex. 3:1-6; 1 Chr. 21:28-30; Lk. 1:8-13).

            Many years ago a young woman in the hillside village of Nazareth was waiting for her wedding day when suddenly an angel appeared to her with some rather unusual news.  However, unlike Adam and Eve, David and Zacharias, Mary is not fearful.  Instead she is curious as to why God has chosen her and asks the Heavenly Messenger, “How could this be?”  You can hear her humility as you read her admission, “Lord, I’m not that special, but I am glad to do Your will.” (Lk. 1:26-38)

            Perhaps the most amazing aspect of the angel Gabriel’s message is the revelation that God is going to come among His people to dwell with them.  God first dwelled with humankind in the Garden of Eden, but sin broke that communion/community.  God continued to desire to be with His people even after the Fall and there are countless stories in the Old Testament which demonstrate this.  However, none is more vivid than the time when Israel wandered through the desert led by the Glory of God.  The Shekinah (as it is called) was God’s version of the Luxor Sky Beam- a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21).  Talk about an intense light!  God also resided in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:8) and the Temple (2 Chronicles 7:1-3).  In each of these sacred spaces it is noted that “the Glory of the Lord” rested on the Mercy Seat.  God’s presence was (and still is) always associated with the most intense light humanly imaginable.  It is almost too bright to bear and just as exciting as a clump of steel wool being lit and swung about to produce an amazing picture.

            But the prophet Isaiah said that God would dwell with us in an even more intimate way (Isaiah 7:14).  The day when Gabriel showed up at Mary’s home put the fulfillment of that prophecy into motion.  Years later when the apostle John wrote, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn. 1:14) he was using the image of all those Old Testament passages and remembering that the Lord made Isaiah’s prophecy truly come to pass.  It would be a fine ending if God’s dwelling with people stopped at Jesus’ birth.  But the story goes on in that now God’s Spirit dwells in us (1 Cor. 3:16)!  God no longer guides people on earth through sky beams or by living in the Temple in Jerusalem.  He now lives in you!  The intensity of God’s Light in us depends on how willing we are to do God’s will as Mary was.  A new year is about to begin.  Maybe this is the year to work on your intensity and aim to be as bright as the Luxor Sky Beam while living for Christ each and every day.

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

            Every community has at least one- that over the top Christmas light display that has a light on every tree, every object and every possible inch of the house where lights can be hung.  Some displays are more sedate and elegant with a wreath on the door and a candle in every window.  Some are whimsical with their illuminated blow-up characters of snowmen, penguins and beloved Christmas characters.  In most neighborhoods you will find light displays from one end of the spectrum to the other making Christmas perhaps the most well-lit of all the holidays we celebrate.   The lights of Christmas are quite beautiful on a cold winter’s night, but have you ever looked at them in the daytime?  They don’t look like much then.

            Light does have a way of taking common everyday (and sometimes even ugly) things and making them beautiful.  Such was the case for the artists Valeria Bianco, Michelle Brick and Shaugun Singh who used gateways of light to beautify the pedestrian walkway underneath the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.  The Tribute of Light is the art installation at Ground Zero which sends up two beacons of light each year to commemorate the victims of 9-11.  Because we are attracted to light and find it beautiful in many ways, light has been used in art and architecture throughout the ages, beginning with the stained-glass windows of Gothic cathedrals all the way to lasers and neon lights in the modern era.  So it is not surprising that light has led us to the day we celebrate Christ’s birth.

            The lovely tradition of the Advent wreath is designed to guide believers through the dark days of waiting before the celebration of Christ’s birth.  The outer circle of the wreath contains four candles which are lit weekly; each featuring a part of the Christmas story.  One candle is placed in the center and it is called the Christ Candle.  The fact that this candle is in the center of the wreath reminds believers that the Incarnation (Christ’s birth) is the heart of the Christmas season giving light to the world.  Madison Avenue and marketing experts may try to convince you that the celebration of Christmas through holiday meals and excessive gifts is what Christmas is all about.  Hallmark movies and box office hits at the local movie theater may try to tell you that family, friends and brotherly love are what Christmas is all about.  But that one central candle is the True Light, the real meaning of Christmas (Jn. 1:9) and it is plainly visible to us on the Advent wreath.  We can’t overlook it because of where it is placed. 

            Christ is truly the center of Christmas.  Even as a baby, He was both human and unique.  He came into this world like all other babies (Lk. 2:7) yet angels surrounded by a glorious light announced His birth to shepherds (Lk. 2:8-13).  Not many babies get a birth announcement like that!  While Matthew and Luke give us some details about His birth, it is not nearly enough for our detail hungry 21st century minds.  Instead when it came time for His story to be told the Gospel writers focused their attention on His death and resurrection, including His promise to return (Acts 1:1-11).  While Advent is celebrated with the lighting of candles, the singing of Christmas carols and prayer Christmas itself brings Advent to a close.  Your neighbors will eventually take down their Christmas display.  If you do have an Advent wreath you will pack it up and put it away until next year.  But our waiting is not over.  Now we wait for Christ’s return and until He comes it is our privilege and duty to carry His beautiful light into the world just as He commanded us in Matthew 5:14-16.

            Will our light be like the central candle of the Advent wreath, the one that points to the Center of Christmas?  Or will it be like those crazy blow-up characters that look like a pile of dirty laundry in the daytime when they are lying lifeless on the ground?  Will our light be joyful like the house whose windows, shutters, doors and eaves are dotted with a colorful ribbon of cascading Christmas lights or will they be calm, peaceful and inviting like the stately homes which spotlight a wreath on the door and have a candle in every window?  Whatever form our light-shining might take, it is my prayer that no one will mistake it for an advertising campaign or a secular platitude.  May our lights shine forth with the True Light this Christmas season and throughout the coming year.
 
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

            It had been a busy day.  I’d been cleaning a friend’s house and then stopped off at the supermarket to do the food shopping on the way home.  My last stop was to the pharmacy to pick up some toiletries.  The day had also been a wet one with several heavy downpours.  But as the evening approached, the clouds began to recede and the sun was making a grand appearance on the horizon.  When I stepped out of the store, I was met with a spectacular sight.  To my left was a sunset so golden it appeared as if the sky was drenched in liquid amber and honey and infused with gold dust.  That was breathtaking enough, but to my right, an even grander display revealed itself- a massive rainbow whose arch stretched across the sky against the canvas of the rain clouds which were now transformed in to a work of art.  Seeing the colorful light of a rainbow is always a joyful experience for me.

            Light, and the colors revealed by it, is both obvious and mysterious.  We enjoy its yellow warmth every day and keep the darkness of night at bay with a variety of incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs.  We catch glimpses of its nature when a sunbeam travels across a dust-filled room or when a rainbow appears after a storm.  The fundamental process at work in a rainbow is refraction, which simply put is the bending of light.  Light bends, or changes direction, when it travels through one medium to another, such as it does from the air and through a prism you have hanging in your window. 

          Prisms also separate white light into its component colors.  Different colors have different frequencies.  These frequencies of light enter and exit the prism at different speeds which is how the light is bent.  A prism bends the colors twice- once when the light enters it, and once again when it exits the prism.  Drops of rainwater disperse light the same way a prism does.  Light enters the raindrop from one angle and is bent a second time as it exits the raindrop.  Each drop refracts one color of the spectrum, so you can imagine how many raindrops it takes to make a rainbow!

          Our ability to see color is thanks to two components in the make-up of our eyes- rods and cones which are located in our retina.  These photoreceptors help us to perceive light and particularly color.  The rods are less sensitive to color even though we have somewhere around 120 million of them in our eyes.  The 6 to 7 million cones which can be found in the central yellow spot (the macula) is where our color perception takes place.  Cones are divided into three types: red, green and blue.  The blue cones have the highest sensitivity to light and color.  The rods employ a photopigment called rhodopsin.  They are more sensitive to blue and respond very little to red which leads to some interesting ways in which we perceive color.  For example, in bright light our cones enable us to see a red rose but its leaves will be less vibrant.  However, when twilight comes our rods will pick up on the green of the leaves and the red rose will be less vibrant.

          Stars, planets and heavenly bodies such as comets can also appear to be colored as they twinkle or move across the night sky.  In the ancient world those nightly spectacles were often related to monumental events that took place in history.  For example, Roman historians took note that a blood-red comet (so bright it could be seen during the day) appeared in 44 B. C., the year Julius Caesar was assassinated.  Although we can’t specifically identify the comet or star that appeared to the Wise Men, we know they took its appearance seriously because they packed up their belongings and headed west to find the king they determined it was announcing.  Modern astronomers have come up with a few good candidates for this important celestial birth announcement but which one it was is not as important as what the Wisemen did when they saw it and the result it produced when they found what they were looking for.  Upon arriving in Bethlehem and seeing Jesus, their feelings were just as full of joy and delight as the ones we express when we see a beautiful rainbow stretched overhead (Mt. 2:1-12).

          Bumper stickers proclaiming, “Wisemen still seek Him” were quite popular a while back.  While the saying may be cliché now, it’s still true.  Eyes which can enjoy the beauty of a golden sunset or a massive rainbow are also meant to “see” the Truth of this season.  We don’t have to pack up everything and go on a lengthy journey to find it but our determination should be just as committed to doing so as the Wisemen were.  In a holiday season driven by consumerism it’s easy to miss Jesus.  Could we develop spiritual eyes that like our rods and cones enable us to adjust our vision and see Him in the midst of all the lights and tinsel?  I think it’s possible if we truly want to see (Ps. 9:10; 34:10; 40:16; Is. 55:6; Mt. 6:33).

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

            Have you ever watched a spark take hold of a piece of wood and leap up into a flame on a campfire, in a fireplace, or in a woodstove?  If you’re lighting that fire in a dark place, the minute the flame takes hold the darkness appears to move away from the light.  Light has the ability to dispel darkness; to literally push it away and replace the darkness with revelation and understanding.  The season of Advent which is now being celebrated in many churches features different parts of the Christmas story in anticipation of Christ’s birth with the lighting of candles.  As the weeks progress more and more light appears on the Advent wreath.  The candles on it are lit bringing more light into the “dark days” of waiting.  The story is revealed to us little by little, just like the sun rises little by little, until we celebrate Christ’s birth.

            There was a man long ago who believed that he would see God’s light in a very special way.  His faith was rewarded when Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple for His customary dedication.  When the man (whose name was Simeon) saw Jesus, he praised God and called Jesus a “Light of Revelation” and “God’s Salvation” (Luke 2:25-35, vv.30 and 32 in particular).  Those seem like strange names for a baby!  But Simeon understood that he was seeing some of Isaiah’s prophecies come true right before his eyes (Is. 9:1-7).  The dark days of his waiting were chased away by God’s Light.

            Hannukah is another festival which features light and it too is celebrated at this time of year.  The lights of Hannukah tell the story of a dark time in Jewish history when the Temple had been defiled and worship there was being suppressed.  A bold, young man named Judas Macabee roused nationalistic fervor among the Jews and after a year of skirmishes and battles he was able to recapture the Temple in Jerusalem.  However it was in such a state of defilement it seemed like it would be an impossible task to clean it up.  None the less the clean-up job was initiated and after a year the rededication of the Temple became a reality.  But, as the story goes, it was discovered that only one day’s worth of the proper oil for the lampstand in the Holy Place could be found.  It was decided that the ceremony would still take place and the lampstand would be allowed to go out.  Once more oil could be produced the Temple would be dedicated again.  However when the priest entered the Holy Place the following day, the lamp was still burning and for the following 7 days (while the new oil was being made) the lamp remained burning.  The darkness of those days prior to the dedication was replaced by a great miracle; one the Jewish people still celebrate today.   
     
            It is not surprising to me that the darkness this time of year seems much colder than others.  It’s not just the fact that the temperature is lower due to the sun’s distance from our planet.  In the northern hemisphere the color has been drained from our surroundings by leafless trees and hibernating gardens.  Even the animals lose some of their color to naturally blend in with the defoliated forest.  I’m always jealous of the folks who live in the southern hemisphere at this time since they’re heading into summer but then, they encounter the same flip-flop when we are suffering through the heat of summer and they are in the midst of their winter.  Still, on a daily basis, we all face a point when the darkness seems overwhelmingly here to stay until that moment when the first hint of light pops over the horizon at sunrise or just like that initial spark on a piece of wood promises that heat is on the way.

            There is something about faith that is perfectly illustrated in the attraction of a light which pierces through the darkness and draws us to it for warmth and the ability to see.  So it is not unusual to find that many passages of Scripture use light to teach us that coming to know Christ as Savior is like the process of being drawn to a light in a dark room.  1 Peter 2:9 teaches us that God has brought us into this light:  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  As you can see, the attraction does not stop when we find the light, it continues as we draw others alongside us so that they too can benefit from it. 

            Back in the ancient days of my college years my friends and I would sing a song that began with the words, “It only takes a spark to get a fire going”.  The song continued to affirm that God’s love was similar.  If you “Passed It On”, it would take off like a flame.  So as the Advent season continues, find ways that you can be God’s light for those who you see caught in darkness.  Be the light that dispels darkness for them.

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

            What is the first thing you do when you walk into a dark room?  If you are like most people, you will look for the light switch and turn on the light.  Or if you have trouble seeing in the dark when you wake up during the night, you probably keep a flashlight by your bed.  Flashlights are certainly one of the modern era’s best inventions and they have progressed with time.  The patent for the first commercial flashlight was awarded to British inventor David Misell on January 10, 1899.  At the time it was called an “electric device” and it operated with two D batteries placed front to back in a paper tube with a light bulb and brass reflector at the end.  Several of them were donated to the New York City police force who responded favorably to them but they were not easy to manufacture for the masses so they remained a novelty item until production became more cost effective.  By 1922 several types were available; the tubular hand-held variety, a lantern style that could be set down for extended use, pocket-size lamps for close work, and large reflector searchlight-type lamps for lighting distant objects.  During that time there were an estimated 10 million flashlight users in the United States.  Can you imagine the number today?!

            We need the light so that we can see.  Once a light has illuminated a room, we can move about it with ease, but before that happens, we are stuck in the dark.  Cameras have the same issue.  Unless there is some sort of light source, it cannot “see” the object we want to take a picture of.  However there are several artistic options that photographers can play with in order to produce a picture.  If the light is low the photographer can direct some sort of light onto the subject.  They may use studio lighting but flashlights work too.  Photos taken with a low amount of light are called low-key.  A photographer may also opt to take a picture with a lot of light that almost makes the subject disappear into that light.  These photos are called high-key.  However most of the time photographers look for the right balance of light and dark, or shadows and bright spots when taking a picture.  No matter what the condition it’s in light is crucial for the camera to record the image.  If there is no light whatsoever, there will be no picture unless an artificial light source provides it.

            Through the centuries light has come to symbolize understanding; that is when an idea or concept is grasped or recognized by someone who has not known it before.  It’s the idea that is promoted when we say something has “come to light”.  The information has been revealed and we understand what it means.  The prophet Isaiah wrote about one of those moments when he recorded the words of Is. 9:1-2.  When the land of Israel was assigned to the 12 tribes, Zebulun and Naphtali ended up in the northern region of the land.  Isaiah says that the people have walked in darkness but now they will see a great light and he particularly mentions Zebulun and Naphtali.  This seems to be a curious distinction.  Why not the whole land?  Why not all 12 tribes?  After all, every person needs light when they are surrounded by darkness.  Just ask all those people who own flashlights!  Amazingly this promise was made approximately 700 years before it was fulfilled and the reason why Zebulun and Naphtali are singled out becomes clear when we examine some of the details concerning the life of Jesus recorded in Mt. 2:23 and Mt. 4:13.  Jesus grew up in the town of Nazareth which is located in territory that was given to the tribe of Zebulun and He ministered in Capernaum, which is in the area of Naphtali’s allotment.  God’s Light came into those places just as Isaiah said it would in such a specific way it cannot be missed.

            Photography, faith and the art of seeing has taught me that like a camera, people will not see the image of Christ unless I project some light into their lives.  The world we live in is darkened with sin.  A steady diet of the news will prove that.  But with the light of Christ in us, we can illuminate this dark world.  Paul encouraged the Philippians to be “lights in the world” (Phil. 2:14-15) in the middle of all its darkness.  If there is low light when I go to take a picture, it’s up to me as to whether I’ll use the existing light and adjust the camera or introduce an artificial light such as a flashlight, but nonetheless, there must be light.  It challenges me to think about how I will be a light.  Will I share the Good News of the Gospel with someone?  Will I pray for unsaved family and friends?  Will I be the hands and feet of Christ by giving money or goods (or myself!) to a food pantry, soup kitchen or an organization that helps those in need?  Will I find a ministry in my church that needs help and give my time and myself to it?  Will I be kind to the check out lady, smile at a stranger, be patient with an over-active child?  Whatever it is, whatever choice I make, it’s the image of Christ that someone will see, so I want to make sure that the light reveals the right image and brings them understanding!

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

            When I was young the days between December 1st and the 25th stretched further than the eye could see down railroad tracks heading toward the horizon.  Every year we had an Advent calendar- a picture with little doors you could open to reveal a tiny picture inside.  Even though I could see more and more doors opened as the weeks went by, in my young mind eternity was shorter!  As Christmas day drew closer the air of expectancy increased especially when my mother started baking Christmas cookies and Christmas decorations started to appear around our house.  We all know what it’s like to wait for something whether it’s Christmas, getting our license, voting for the first time, or starting a new job.  Most of the time we anticipate good things, but when it’s something we’re uncertain about, waiting can be stressful or nerve-wracking.

            Imagine then what it must have been like to be an ancient Israelite who knew of Malachi’s prophecy (Mal. 4:5-6) but also knowing that Malachi’s ministry had taken place 400 years earlier.  Over the course of those four centuries your land has been governed by a succession of appointed leaders from super powers such as Greece and Persia.  Now you are under the authority of the Romans who, in order to keep the empire peaceful, rule with an iron fist.  Generation after generation watches the years go by and remembers the promise, but no prophet appears.  Do you think you would lose hope?  It appears that some had, but many had not, for when John the Baptist appears in the wilderness, he immediately draws a crowd and the people recognize him as a prophet.

            The essence of the role of a Biblical prophet is not to predict the future like prophets are expected to do in today’s culture, but in the Bible a prophet’s main role was to speak forth the Word of God.  John’s message was in line with the great prophets of the Scriptures.  The prophet served as the contemporary voice of God to his generation.  As the voice of God, the prophet pointed out religious and social sins and called for repentance.

            The first chapter of the Gospel of John is not only a poetic masterpiece (Jn. 1:1-5); it is also a dissertation on the individual roles of Jesus and John the Baptist (Jn. 1:6-13, 19-23).  It is interesting to note that all four Gospels make mention of John the Baptist which emphasizes the connection the writers saw between Malachi’s prophecy and John the Baptist’s ministry.  In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist is called a witness to the Light, but not the True Light.  That role belongs to Jesus and His title as the True Light not only signifies His authenticity, it underscores His eternal nature as well (v.9).

            John the Baptist’s message is a continuation of the great prophets before him.  Like them, he was called to his ministry by God (Is. 1:1-2; Jer. 1:1; Lk. 3:2; Jn. 1:6).   Like some of them, he preached in the Judean wilderness (Mt. 3:5; Mk. 1:5; Lk. 3:3).  He had the same wardrobe and the same diet (2 Ki. 1:8; Zech. 13:4; Mt. 3:4; Mk. 1:6) and resembled Elijah in appearance.  Like his predecessors he warned his audience that judgment was on its way.  It was time to repent and turn back to God (1 Ki. 18:21; Mk. 1:4; Lk. 3:3).  The people also responded to John the Baptist as they had to Elijah (1 Ki. 18:38; Lk. 3:10).  However there was confusion as to his actual identity (Lk. 3:15).  Was he the forerunner of Malachi or the Messiah Himself?  Inquiring minds wanted to know.   John was more than ready to tell them the answer (Jn. 1:19-34).

            It is with these questions in mind that John (the disciple) writes in his Gospel that although John the Baptist was sent by God, he was only sent to “bear witness of the light” (Jn. 1:7-8).           There is an amazing result when we listen to the witness of John the Baptist and accept that Jesus is the True Light.  When we are enlightened by the True Light, its everlasting nature brings us into a familial relationship with God the Father.  We are now His children, born not of a physical birth but a spiritual one and His light becomes a part of us (Jn. 1:12-13).

            One chilly winter night several years ago my friend Elaine and I went driving around the city of Batavia New York in search of Christmas lights for me to photograph.  We didn’t have to look too hard!  One street in particular was awash in Christmas lights and those blow-up holiday decorations which are lit up from the inside.  We parked and I got out for a little while so that I could take pictures without the vibration of the car.  House after house was decorated in lights that seemed to cover every square inch of available space.  But one house stood out from the rest; not because of its excessive holiday spirit but because of its simplicity.  The house was basically dark with small candles in each window, but in the yard there was one simple crèche scene.  While holiday lights adorned the other houses, the True Light was celebrated here.  It was the brightest spot on the street for me.  This year as you are enjoying the lights of the holiday season and anticipating the celebration of Christmas Day, let the lights remind you of the True Light “which coming into the world enlightens every man (Jn. 1:9)”.

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

            There is a picture ingrained in my memory of a moment shared between my son Christopher and my granddaughter Leigh when she was about the age of 4.  Leigh was a very determined little girl but like all children she could be easily distracted.  I’m not sure what led up to the moment now, but during one visit Leigh had climbed on to Christopher’s lap to play.  Whatever they were doing the exchange had caught the attention of her grandfather and Jeff was doing his best to interrupt their game.  All of a sudden the game took on a different nature when Christopher cupped Leigh’s face in his hands and turned her eyes towards his with a soft but strong command, “Focus”.  The more Jeff tried to pull her attention away from Christopher, the stronger his voice and gaze became.  “Focus… focus…”, he repeated and Leigh listened.  No matter what Jeff did, she remained fixed on Christopher.  It was a test of wills and Leigh’s was prevailing.  She was determined to stay focused on her uncle no matter what her grandfather did.

            Focus is a key component when it comes to recognizing the subject of a picture.  We prefer subjects to be sharp and clearly in focus so when the subject appears to be out of focus we find it unappealing and confusing.  An out of focus subject causes the viewer to wonder exactly what the subject is or it has them straining to see the details of what is perceived to be the subject, such as a person’s face in a portrait, so that the picture makes sense.  If what we perceive to be the subject is not in focus and some other point in the picture is, we’re confused about what the photographer is trying to say to us.

            In life-matters when we say someone is focused we mean they have a clear understanding of who they are and where they want to go.  Many times the goals they reach are achieved not only by determination but by a focus developed very early on in a person’s life.  Steven Covey, in his best selling self-help book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, called this “habit” the ability to “begin with the end in view”.  To accomplish any goal, one must stay focused in order to reach the end.  The subject of a picture must be focused.  Even when this general rule is broken in an artistic way, the subject is still compositionally central to the picture and therefore focused.
  
          But if focus was merely about a goal or purpose in life then I would be in a tough spot.  My life has never completely followed the path I thought it was supposed to take.  I have learned when it comes to a focused life in light of faith that it is not so much what you focus on, rather it is WHO you focus on.  It is a rare person who knows at an early age what they are “meant to do” and does it when they reach adulthood.  It can become a dangerous thing to become stuck on a life-goal that involves some sort of achievement or performance.  What if something happens where you are physically unable to accomplish a goal you’ve set for yourself?  I can think of several professional athletes who’ve had to struggle with something like that.
    
        It is in fact an athletic allusion in the book of Hebrews that answers the question, “What should I focus my life on?”  I have stood in the grand stadium in Athens where the ancient Olympics took place.  The white Pentelic marble glistens in the sun and it is easy to imagine athletes and spectators filling the stadium before a race. The crowds chatter and watch athletes stretch and prepare their muscles for the race.  Then the runners gather at the starting line.  In ancient times togas and other encumbrances were tossed aside and left there so that nothing would slow the runner down.   I can “see” the runners take their starting positions, crouched and ready to spring forward like a panther or leopard stalking its prey.  There is a hush that comes over the crowd until a signal sets the runners off and they sprint around the track as if the wind was propelling them forward.  The crowd cheers excitedly as the race is run and then finishes with a round of applause when the finish line is crossed.  I think this is what the writer of Hebrews had in mind when he wrote the words of Heb. 12:1-2. If you have ever watched a runner compete you have seen the power and determination which they display while straining toward the finish line.  That image matches the words of this passage to a “T”.  It is a picture of focus for me.  No matter what event I may be taking part in, that is, no matter what I may be “doing”, the finish line is always Jesus.  He is the focus of my life.

            My focus can sometimes need adjustment.  It’s easy to be distracted and lose focus.  In those times Christopher and Leigh’s game comes to mind.  When my focus needs adjusting it’s as if Jesus cups my face in His hands, turns my gaze towards Him, and says, “Focus…focus…”  Some goals can and will change with time, but my focus must remain fixed.  It’s up to me to keep my focus on Jesus no matter what distractions come my way.  A life focused on Him will always finish the race well (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

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