This morning, for Sunday worship service, our congregation didn’t meet in the churchyard as happens each time we have church services. Instead, we took a detour and went down to the creek. The beauty of nature became a sanctuary like none I’ve ever been in. Overhead, the trees, bursting with the leaves that come with mid-summer, made a canopy that swayed in the morning breeze. The overcast sky threatened rain and the light, soft and yielding, cast a lovely glow on the people that had gathered to worship God and on the beauty of God’s creation surrounding them. Behind the “pulpit” made up of a picnic table underneath one of the huge trees, the creek gurgled and laughed as it flowed over rocks and made it’s way, as all flowing water does, to the sea.
As I looked around at the people, I saw an array of dress and I couldn’t help thinking that there are places some of us, myself included,would not have been allowed. Knowing what hangs around creeks and pastures, I wore my jeans and boots. Nobody cared. We were there to worship the Lord, not critique what each one was wearing. While we sang songs from the old Church Hymnal, I walked around taking photos. I could not pass up such a rare opportunity to get shots of God’s people worshiping Him in the midst of His creation while all that surrounded us sang along with us and, in my mind, took an active part just by being. After the service, the food and fun began. There were grilled burgers and dogs with all the fixin’s. Not long after they got their bellies full, the kids found their way into the water. With splashing and squealing, the ones who were fishing were, I’m afraid, wasting their time.
All in all, it was a wonderful day of worship, prayer, food, fun, playing, wading, swimming and fishing. Amidst it all was laughter and fellowship. I can only imagine that God was pleased to see His children gathering under His canopy to sing His praises and worship His glory. When I count my blessings, I count photography with them for, through the eyes of the spirit, I see what magnificent beauty God has made.
A Photographer's Heart 