God works in
mysterious ways. You've heard it said many times. Here is one of my experiences
of God's faithfulness in my life.
Earlier this spring,
my used (and very first) DSLR died following an afternoon of shooting in a state
park. Cyclops, my Fuji
I have a
point-and-shoot with a crack in the lens. It really shows up in low light and
on cloudy days. I was thinking, "Oh no. One of my cameras is dead, and the
other is singing (or shooting) its swan song. I'm a disabled person on a fixed
income. How will I take pictures with a camera that challenges my skill level?
I prayed about the
loss and my disappointment. I thanked God for Cyclops and the lessons he taught
me. I prayed that one day I could own another DSLR, perhaps used and in good
condition.
About two months
passed. I follow some photography blogs, and e-mailed an author regarding
the subject and quality of the particular image. This person knows a bit about
my love of photography and disability.
Not long after, I
got a notification my comment had a reply. I couldn't believe what I was
reading; this person had an old camera they wanted to send to me-free of charge.
I thanked this
person, but I insisted on paying something, even if it was only fifty dollars
in monthly installments. They refused. I finally had to demand to pay half the
shipping.
On June 21, 2016-the
start of a new season- a Nikon D7100 arrived in the mail, inside a brand new
carrying bag. This person said that they wanted to give back for all that
photography has done for them.
They asked me to
send a picture taken on their "Old Faithful ".
That was his name out of the box-Old Faithful. Yes, I do assign gender to
inanimate objects.
I can't express
enough gratitude to someone I've never met and who lives halfway across the
country.
I felt like a kid
trying on adult shoes and hoping I could "measure up" to this rock
star of cameras.
The clarity of Old Faithful is astounding-and I haven't taken it out of
auto mode yet.
By God's grace, the
journey continues. Old Faithful arrived in the
wake of a major depressive episode. When I have succumbed to neurological war
and am about to wave the white flag, that is usually when a breakthrough
happens.
1 Corinthians 10:13
says that God will not allow us to go through more than we
can bear. He
promises to provide a way out of the trials we go through, to a place of
escape. Photographing in nature helps me escape. Having a help person to drive
me to locations aids in that escape. I couldn't do any of that and continue to
do well if it weren't for those who God uses to help me.
Jesus says He knows
what we need before we ask Him (Matthew:7,8, Matthew 6:26,33), but He wants us
to put forth the effort and ask Him. I have learned that sometimes the answer is
no. I must wait, exercise faith and trust in Him.
May the kindness
this person sowed in donating Old Faithful be
repaid tenfold.
There is a gift
better than any camera. That's the free gift of salvation God gave to us when
His Son, Jesus, died nailed to a cross and rose to life again. May God
help you to discover His hope, the kind that doesn't disappoint. May He help
you to wait and trust in Him. May He bless you and help you
to be a blessing. Amen.
Something for those who say "Why do bad things happen to good people" to think about. We are to be Christ's hands and feet. For to whom much is given, much is expected (Luke 12:48).
"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done." Proverbs 19:17 NIV