Eyes of the Heart Photo Projects: Receiving Images

Paintner writes, "Go on a contemplative walk that will also be a photographic journey....Ask for guidance and wisdom to see everyday things with the eyes of the heart....As you walk, be present to what is calling for your attention....Let your camera be a window into a new way of seeing. Receive the images that come." (Eyes of the Heart, p. 38-39)

I chose to walk around my apartment complex--so familiar and yet I don't often walk through it slowly enough to notice things. I am usually on my way somewhere (probably running late) or on my way home (probably exhausted). I discovered so many treasures today!

Finding room to grow in a hard place

It rained last night, so there were puddles everywhere

Doesn't look like anyone uses this door anymore!

Who knew home renovation trash could be beautiful!

This stovepipe extension (a plastic Coke bottle) had me laughing out loud!

Urban gardening

This bird is probably not angry anymore :o(

One of my very favorites of the day!

This stray dog did great posing for my photo shoot! He even took a few steps closer when I asked if I could take his picture!

One of these things is not like the other...

Are VWs really evil?

A flower in an unexpected place!

Butterfly? Fairy? Rabbit? I like it as a fairy.

All set for a rainy day on the run

I love that painted this ladder orange!

Urban gardener

Wasn't that fun?!!

Eyes of the Heart Photo Projects: Everyday Object

I started discovering about two years ago how the process of taking photos affects my soul and heals deep places (I blogged a little about that in “Healing Flowers”). I have even called it “photo therapy” (that was even before knowing that it is an actual, documented psychotherapy technique)! Sometimes, spending an hour or so with my camera in hand is a form of worship for me….. I have also seen how God has spoken to others through my photos—brought deep peace, led them into worship, etc.

At the beginning of May, I attended a spiritual formation conference at my home church. At the end of the three days, they had us create a growth plan. I could only bring myself to write six words on the page, three of which were under the heading “What spiritual disciplines will you press into?” I wrote: “taking photos” and “writing”. It felt a little weird and un-orthodox as I wrote it, but I knew that’s what God was leading me into.

Then, while shopping on Amazon just a few days later, I came across a book entitled, Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice, by Christine Valters Paintner. I nearly jumped up and down and definitely did scream in excitement. 

About two weeks ago, I dug in and began reading. Maybe I should say highlighting. So far, I am underlining just about as many passages as I read with my red colored pencil! It is wonderful for someone else to be putting into words what I have only sensed for so long. Even though I am finding the book fascinating, I want to read with both an open heart and discernment. These concepts are quite outside the theological boxes I grew up with...or are they.... 

At the end of each chapter, Paintner guides the reader through a photography exercise that allows hands-on experience to both practice the concepts she writes about and, in so doing, connect with God in a new way. 

So, in this series of posts, I will be sharing a few of the photos I take during these exercises and what I learn as I take them.

The first exercise: Take 50 photos of an object that you see everyday "but often falls under the radar of your real attention." She wants the reader to cultivate the practice of seeing deeply, of beholding. 

I chose a woven coaster from Guatemala. My mom gave it to me. Its home is the top of my dresser, next to my antique "morning meeting with God chair" and its job is to keep my coffee cup that I set upon it every day from scratching the dresser's petina (which is also an antique). I will spare you all 50 photos, especially because the ones that I like best came about fifteen minutes into the process when I started to get bored and think I was done.

A New Way of Listening

I set aside this afternoon, this Sabbath afternoon, to spend extended time with God. I sat in my antique chair, feet up, journal on my lap, sipping my hot latte, ready. I smiled in anticipation….

 

God has spoken so intimately to me in this place, through His Word, directly to my heart over the last couple of days. After several mornings of deep, resounding Truths transforming my thinking in a moment, digging out unbelief and planting trust and Peace, I wondered if He could speak anything so amazing again. Why do I have thoughts like this?!?! Our God is an ocean, far broader, deeper, more vast than I could possibly imagine. Did I think I had already plunged the depths? Was a really doubting that God could meet me where I was at and move mountains in my heart for the fifth day in a row?? Not really. But, this level of transforming intimacy has not often been my daily experience. He did speak that sixth day in a row…deeply….faithfully….

I am learning to trust Him to blow me away with Truths on a more regular basis. So, I waited with a smile on my face. I had some questions about what lies ahead, certain decisions I thought it necessary to make, but I wanted to go before Him without an agenda. I waited, listening to the sounds of rain outside, warm mug in hand and pen and open journal ready.

But, instead of the familiar voice I expected, the muted rain-light through my bedroom window and the lingering taste of latte on my tongue mingled with thoughts of God’s gentle persistence, writing and taking pictures.

I love how God has been so gentle with my heart as He continuously challenges me to trust Him. What would be the content of my next blog entry? I would love to take photos today, but it’s rainy. What books should I be reading that would nourish my soul? …….

How much of this is God guiding my thoughts and how much of it is my own self-created noise?

The more I tried to quiet these thoughts, the more they took over. So, I decided to start this time of listening before God with my camera in hand. I took a stack of books off my shelf—books that I had purchased recently and are on my desire-to-read-really-soon short list—and started shooting away.

And God spoke as I looked through the lens of my camera.

He gave me deep insight into some of the questions my heart has been asking recently. How does this new level of intimacy with Him impact my relationships, the way I see the people and the city and the world around me? Does it, even? I feel kind of disconnected. I have also strongly felt the pull to delve deep into my relationship with God in solitude and seclusion, lingering long in my inner world, enjoying the presence of God, learning more about meditating on His Word and the age-old practice of contemplation, spending hours journaling. Yet, I know deep down and God has confirmed that He has called me to this city, to these people, to love children with special needs and their families, to spend time pouring life into people. I have felt compelled to share what has been going on in my heart, but I have no idea how.

As I photographed a few choice books, God opened my eyes to see how this will work, this delving deep and reaching out. All the books I chose fell into one of two categories:

1)  Inner life (contemplation, listening, writing, photography):

o   Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice by Christine Valters Paintner

o   The Little Book of Contemplative Photography: Seeing with Wonder, Respect and Humilty by Howard Zehr

o   Mansions of the Heart: Exploring the Seven Stages of Spiritual Growth by R. Thomas Ashbrook

o   The Art of Spiritual Listening: Responding to God’s Voice Amid the Noise of Life by Alice Fryling

2)      Mission (the world, impact of faith outwardly):

o   In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership by Henri J.M. Nouwen

o   The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society by Henri J.M. Nouwen

o   God is the Gospel: Meditations on God’s Love as the Gift of Himself by John Piper

o   Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide for Every Nation by Jason Mandryk

And, the Bible in Chinese seemed to be a bridge the gap between the two.

As I come to Him, desiring to hear and putting away the ways I expect Him to move and speak, and follow Him, He will show the way. He will meld those inner and outer worlds, the contemplation with the calling, the listening with the sharing, my antique chair with the streets and people outside, the work He is doing in my heart with the work He is doing in the people around me.

 

Isn’t that just how He is?! :o)

So very relational.

Simultaneously calling us to those intimate moments on His lap and to the lost in the world.

Using the personal journey of our hearts to transform our communities.

Blessing us so that we may be a blessing.

Uniting us with Himself so that the world may believe.

(Gen 12.2-3; Is 55.2-5; Matt 26.7, 12-13; John 17.21, 23)

May He never stop amazing me with the ocean-vastness of His thoughts and character! And May He continue to give me eyes to see and hears to hear, whatever way He chooses to reveal Himself to me.