Light and Shadow

I originally took this photo because of the sun reflecting off the windows of the building next to this one and shining on the side of this building. Sunshine always reminds me of God’s presence because I love it so much, and it brings out wonderful colors on the side of this building in what is an often gray and dreary city. It reminds me that God is present with us everywhere, and gives life to us and our world. However, upon looking at this photo further, I noticed that there is a cross-shaped shadow on the taller building. I could not be more amazed by God’s presence and love.

Small Surprises

Flowers always remind me of God’s presence. They are so gorgeous and unique, and I always feel like God made them for our enjoyment. I am always seeking them out and taking pictures of them. For this photo though, I was not the one that placed the flower there. I don’t know if someone put it there on purpose or if it accidentally made its way onto this plaque, but I noticed it, and felt like it was God behind whatever it was that caused the flower to end up there. I think that God leaves even tiny gifts for us, just because He loves us.

Unnoticed

This photo represents God in the ordinary for me because it is something that most people would just pass by. God shows Himself in the little things to me, because I find them beautiful, even though many others would not or would not notice them. This is a very ordinary subject matter – books in a window in downtown Portland – but to me it was beautiful. It was a little gift from God. I like to think He does that kind of thing just for me.

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In the book of Luke, Jesus says that if we do not praise him as Lord, even the rocks will cry out. I love this little Gaillardia with brilliant, trumpeting petals. It reminds me that all of creation praises him, all of creation poi

In the book of Luke, Jesus says that if we do not praise him as Lord, even the rocks will cry out. I love this little Gaillardia with brilliant, trumpeting petals. It reminds me that all of creation praises him, all of creation points to great, gracious Creator.

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I happened upon this fallen tree at the Oregon Coast, whose upturned roots were in the shape of a heart. It was so remarkable to me that God would put reminders of his love even in the roots of trees! His promises are over all crea

I happened upon this fallen tree at the Oregon Coast, whose upturned roots were in the shape of a heart. It was so remarkable to me that God would put reminders of his love even in the roots of trees! His promises are over all creation … sometimes very obvious, sometimes hidden from view …and sometimes “so faint you wouldn’t even know it was there unless you were looking for it.” (Shari MacDonald Strong)

This photograph signifies freedom—the freedom of a little girl twirling, arms wide open, full skirt flying, head thrown back in laughter. The freedom we experience when we are filled with the joy and peace which comes from God alone. Freedom from anxiety, comparison, jealousy, fear, anger, discouragement, judgmentalism. Freedom to love, care, serve, open yourself to God and others in vulnerability and safety. Freedom to be who he has made you to be.

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He is the great champion running his course as he rides on the wind of the clouds.  The earth rejoices as His voice calls us to Himself.  Who will look? Who will see?  All those that hear His voice are called “Bles

He is the great champion running his course as he rides on the wind of the clouds. The earth rejoices as His voice calls us to Himself. Who will look? Who will see? All those that hear His voice are called “Blessed.”

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In the beginning, all of the elements of color were present.  They were in the Universe, in the splendor of God’s Creation. He made the ordered, beautiful world out of chaos.  He made each planet to know its season.&nbs

In the beginning, all of the elements of color were present. They were in the Universe, in the splendor of God’s Creation. He made the ordered, beautiful world out of chaos. He made each planet to know its season. He made the raw materials, the colors, the base materials, everything existed in harmony with nature. The miracle of color surrounds us, and we must stop and appreciate the gift of color from God.

Lord of heaven and earth! For some reason seeing the earth from this perspective, above the clouds, makes me feel closer to God. His domain is so much bigger than I can see.

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This photo was taken on the corner of an intersection in the heart of downtown. I love the peaceful beauty of it, and the fact that it’s where one would find it unlikely, and it may often go unnoticed or taken for granted.

This photo was taken on the corner of an intersection in the heart of downtown. I love the peaceful beauty of it, and the fact that it’s where one would find it unlikely, and it may often go unnoticed or taken for granted. Sunshine always reminds me of God’s presence, and the wonderful glow it gives to the grass feels like God’s glory. This photo reminds me that God is always present, even where we least expect it, and we can experience His glory if we just take the time to notice it.

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I was walking in the park one beautiful Fall morning talking to the Lord, and couldn’t help notice this amazing sight! The Son has come to give us life (just like these trees); and when he shines his light on us, we are forever c

I was walking in the park one beautiful Fall morning talking to the Lord, and couldn’t help notice this amazing sight! The Son has come to give us life (just like these trees); and when he shines his light on us, we are forever changed.There is just a hint of color change in these trees, and like us: we are becoming all the more lovely with the years of walking with our God. Although our bodies are wasting away, we are transformed and made beautiful in His eyes!

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I love C.S. Lewis description of our seen world as "shadowlands."  I find analogies to heavenly realities and revelation of the character in God in absolutely everything when I take the time to look.  Simple rocks on th

I love C.S. Lewis description of our seen world as "shadowlands." I find analogies to heavenly realities and revelation of the character in God in absolutely everything when I take the time to look. Simple rocks on the beach transform into a exclamation of color, a symphony for the eyes, but also intrigue me to look longer and explore another level of encounter. These simple rocks on an Oregon beach speak to me of God's otherness - He is unlike us. We cannot fathom how different He is than us. He is made out of a different "substance" altogether. And yet...somehow He was here, in the form of Christ, looking every bit like us, mixing His otherness with our sameness, blending in while standing out.

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If extravagance can be defined as having more than you need, have we considered the extravagance of God's creative displays? How many times has the sun set the sky ablaze and no one took notice?  How many

If extravagance can be defined as having more than you need, have we considered the extravagance of God's creative displays? How many times has the sun set the sky ablaze and no one took notice? How many times has the scent of lilacs wafted on a spring breeze without anyone there to appreciate it? God wastes His beauty. He doesn't hold it back because there is no shortage, no scarcity. Psalm 96 commands us to declare His glory, but His creation has never ceased glorifying Him. When no one is looking, when no one hears, the trees rejoice. Will I join the ceaseless, joyful praise that creation is extravagantly broadcasting?

Who am I that You are mindful of me?

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We can never think that God does not exist!  Even below the ocean’s waters, He lovingly creates a breath-taking masterpiece that we must simply stop and look for.  If we would quiet our day and take time with the great

We can never think that God does not exist! Even below the ocean’s waters, He lovingly creates a breath-taking masterpiece that we must simply stop and look for. If we would quiet our day and take time with the great Master, He would reveal the beauty of His majesty in all He has created!

Bleached and gnarly branches show the high price of the wind and the rain. Out of the elements comes the beauty and refinement.

In something so common as a flower, God has packed beauty and uniqueness,and the opportunity to pass on life.

This bridge designer used vertical lines to draw our eyes upward--an outdoor cathedral that reaches to the clouds.

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A solitary tree, a stalwart reminder of the strength of God against the forces of the World.   In a world of difficult times, a single tree can stand and flourish against the attacks of the world.  A single tree, a

A solitary tree, a stalwart reminder of the strength of God against the forces of the World. In a world of difficult times, a single tree can stand and flourish against the attacks of the world. A single tree, a voice in the vastness of the world, calling out, crying to the people, to be rooted in the Lord, not to be blown like the grasses and sagebrush against the fences of death, but to prevail in the strength of our God. A voice of hope, a shelter for those who seek the shade of its branches. A voice to shout out the glory of the Lord.

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This tulip illustrates God's gentle touch in the ordinary things of every day life. If God cares enough to gently open the petals of a tulip each morning, then surely his gentle touch is also guiding each and every step we take i

This tulip illustrates God's gentle touch in the ordinary things of every day life. If God cares enough to gently open the petals of a tulip each morning, then surely his gentle touch is also guiding each and every step we take in our daily walk with Him.

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Friendship is universal. It is a way for us to experience a piece of the communion that God experiences in the Trinity. Relationships seem so ordinary and yet so profoundly change us giving us hope and joy.

Friendship is universal. It is a way for us to experience a piece of the communion that God experiences in the Trinity. Relationships seem so ordinary and yet so profoundly change us giving us hope and joy.

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It is down between the rocks, the hard times of life, that the Lord comes and refreshes the soul and makes us new. As the water flows, the rocks are carved into beautiful shapes making the simple beautiful.  How can we ever

It is down between the rocks, the hard times of life, that the Lord comes and refreshes the soul and makes us new. As the water flows, the rocks are carved into beautiful shapes making the simple beautiful. How can we ever miss the touch of the Master’s hands?

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Everywhere I look, I see the great Masters hand!  Every rock is unique and special – they could have been all the same color or shape; but rather, they are beautiful together as they lie together on the shores of the beach.

Everywhere I look, I see the great Masters hand! Every rock is unique and special – they could have been all the same color or shape; but rather, they are beautiful together as they lie together on the shores of the beach. We are often like these rocks. By ourselves, we are nothing and often uninteresting; but when we work together, we are a beautiful symphony. He is the great artist! I marvel at the work of His hands that easily testifies of His love for me!

God in the Ordinary: Contemplative Photography Project

What changes when we begin looking for the Sacred in ordinary spaces?

“God in the Ordinary” began as an invitation to use photography to notice the Sacred. People of any skill level were invited to carry their cameras into ordinary life and spend a month living the questions: Where do I encounter God here? What is drawing my attention? What becomes visible when I stop long enough to look?

More than 50 people participated, 13 to 80 years of age, amateurs and professionals, some using their phone cameras and some using expensive professional equipment. Their photographs were exhibited throughout the church alongside the photographers' own words about what they had seen. The images together offered many different answers to the same invitation to pay attention. We wanted to encourage people to look for God daily and to use their cameras as tools for worship. The secondary goal was to invite the congregation to see the Sacred through someone else’s eyes.

TRY IT YOURSELF

What might become visible if you began looking differently?

Take a camera with you into an ordinary part of your day. You don't need special equipment or photographic skill. Don't begin by looking for something beautiful, meaningful, or obviously sacred. Simply pay attention.

Notice what draws your eye. Take the photograph.

Later, spend some time with the image and ask:

What drew me here?
What do I notice now that I didn't notice before?
How is the Sacred revealing itself here?

You don't need to arrive at an answer. The practice is in the looking.

THE READING THAT BEGAN THE PROJECT

Before participants began photographing, I invited them to read Richard J. Vincent’s Transforming Presence: Knowing God in the Ordinary. His reflection on learning to recognize the presence of God in everyday life provided a starting place for the month of looking that followed.

The original article has become difficult to find online. With Richard Vincent’s generous permission, I have preserved it here as part of the project.

Read Transforming Presence →