A Photographer With A Biblical Message

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After publishing my recent article, A Lesson Of Faith From A Leaf, I received an email from a subscriber named Robert Davis. Contained in his email were some amazing photographs. From his email, I discovered he was a talented photographer. More importantly, I found out that he uses his talent and his photography to teach lessons in faith. I marveled at his stunning photos, but even more so at the message he shared with me. This message applies to all of us. You won’t want to miss his photos or this message.

When someone sees Bob’s photos, they often ask him, “What type of camara do you use?” Bob laughs when he informs them that he uses an old iPhone 7. He often thinks to himself, “If only I had some of the fancier cameras and gear then I’d have some really extraordinary pictures.” Then he continued by saying, “It’s hard to miss what you never had.”

In his email, Bob wrote, “Though, I can imagine having a powerful telescopic lens to catch an image of something in the distance – like that elusive Bald Eagle in High Banks Metro Park. I can imagine having a really powerful macro lens to get all the finest details on some bee’s knees, but I have to make do with what I have.” Then Bob stated a timeless truth. He said, “In  fact, we all have to make do with what we have.”

Many people see one of Bob’s photos and they tell him that they have the latest and greatest camera, but their pictures don’t turn out like his. Bob replies, “Well I hope not, because we all see a little differently! You might notice something wonderful that I wouldn’t catch. That’s a good thing – that we can see and share our own unique experiences of God’s beauty!”

Bob’s email to me reveals an important point for all of us to ponder. When people tell Bob that he has a really good eye, he humbly accepts their compliment, but gives all the credit to God. He quickly reminds them that we all have our own gifts given to us by God.

He says, “If I have a good eye, if I have a camera, if I have the time and desire to go walking and take pictures, I’ll find something.” Many things capture Bob’s creative eye. It might be a closeup of a water drop hanging off a vine with a flipped landscape showing through its lens. It might be animal tracks in the snow on the frozen surface of a river. It might be strange ice formations that makes him marvel at the complexity of the crystals or how he sees what looks like faces in its shapes. It could be something out of place, like a fly on the snow.

Clearly, this photographer uses his talent to take amazing photos. God gives us all different gifts or talents. Some people are blessed to be amazing singers, dancers, creative visual artists, brilliant writers, fabulous musicians, great public speakers or have a great sense of humor. Some are great at designing, building, or fixing things. Some people seem to do well at anything they try, while others struggle to see their own talents.  Even when it is not so easy to see what our talents are, if we look hard enough, we will see that God has given us some unique gift.

1 Peter 4:10 states, “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” Bob made that same point when he told me, “God has given us everything, but we should not be taking it for granted.” He then said, “We should be using what we have- what He gave us, and we should be making something with it and offering the best fruits of our labors back to Him. God wants us to live for Him and in Him. In reality God wants us to give Him back everything – and then some. The “then some” is because if what we give, is given with an openness, and a love, then He can multiply our gifts like so many fish and loaves, to be more than the beginning balance. He expects us to grow the investment He made in us.”

In 1 Corinthians 12:7 it is written, “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” Each of us have unique gifts and talents. In 1 Corinthians 12:16-26 Paul uses the analogy of the body to point out that it takes ears, a nose, feet, and hands and many other parts to make up one body. Each part cannot be the same. What unique gifts and talents has God given to you?

I was blessed to receive Bob’s email. He is using his talent to bring others closer to God. We should all ask ourselves this question, “Am I using the gifts God gave me to bring others closer to God?” If not, perhaps we could ask the Holy Spirit to help us do so. When each person is using their unique God given talents for the benefit of God’s Kingdom, we collectively as a Church, truly become the Body of Christ.

Heavenly Father, help me to see and use the gifts and talents you have given me for the good of your Kingdom and for the benefit of others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

AMDG

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Brian Pusateri

Brian is a Christian author and speaker. Brian, a lifelong Catholic, felt his life was forever changed when God spoke to his heart while attending an eight day silent Christian retreat in November of 2011. Soon after that retreat Brian founded 4th Day Letters and Broken Door Ministries. With the God inspired message of mercy and unconditional love that was placed on his heart during that retreat, Brian has been impacting others all over the country and around the world with his weekly letters, his talks, and his all day Christian retreats. In June of 2014, Brian’s life was again impacted in a very dramatic way when his eyesight suddenly became permanently impaired. The initial diagnosis was Multiple Scleroses (MS) but in December of 2019 the diagnosis was corrected to MOG antibody disease, a rare neurological disease. This health challenge has only served to draw Brian closer to God and bolster the importance of this timely yet ageless message.

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