Feb
21
2017
The Perfect Shot
Posted in Daily Living 4 Comments
My husband and I went out to dinner.
We wanted to try a new Mexican restaurant that had just opened in our area.
As we got out of the car, the town square where the restaurant was located looked so lovely.
Lights hung from the trees and were strung all around the gazebo.
The atmosphere was enchanting.
We walked on the brick path to get to the restaurant.
Once inside, I took a seat facing the inside of the restaurant.
My husband took a seat facing the outside.
I had a view of people coming and going.
He had a view of all the lovely lights.
It was nice to catch up over dinner.
In the busyness of the week, it was nice to slow down a bit.
When we finished our meal and left the restaurant, the lights seemed even lovelier.
We should take a picture, I said out loud.
My husband got out his phone and prepared to take a selfie of the two of us.
I am not a fan of selfies; however, there was no one there to take the picture for us.
Lampposts are strategically placed around the town square.
We happened to be standing under one at that moment.
When my husband took the picture, he turned his phone and said, How’s that?
Because of the glare from the lamppost, shadows covered our faces.
Can you take another one? I asked, the lamppost is making the light a bit strange.
My husband laughed.
He held out his right arm with the phone in his hand and took the picture.
Much better, I critiqued.
What was wrong with the first one? my husband asked.
Our faces were in shadows because of the lamppost, I explained.
The answer seemed to satisfy him.
He knows that I am not a fan of selfie pictures and had a reason for the retake.
I have seen people take a picture over and over to get it just right.
I have seen people take a picture of a landmark making sure their face is front and center.
We all take pictures with our phones attempting to chronicle our lives.
How much life are we missing because we are viewing it behind the lens of a camera?
I admit that I have a selfie stick.
For the woman who does not like selfies that seems like an odd purchase.
However, with a large family, the selfie stick enables everyone to be in the picture.
It simply extends the arm a bit so that no one gets cut out of the shot.
When the only camera was a film camera, you had no idea how a picture would turn out.
You had to take the film to be developed.
You had to wait to get your pictures back.
Only then could you see what pictures you had taken.
You had only one chance to take a good picture.
Vacation pictures could be hit or miss.
Point and shoot cameras made things a bit easier.
Film cameras did not allow for do-overs, unless you wanted to use another roll of film.
With the ease that camera phones affords us, there is also the obsession with editing.
One click can take the picture.
One swipe can erase it so that you can start over.
The perfect picture may have been taken numerous times before getting it right.
Candid photos are a thing of the past.
With editing at our fingertips, it is incredibly easy to show the best version of yourself.
The best version is usually not be the real version.
We are becoming our own worst critic.
I happened to see a short film of what an engagement might look like in today’s culture.
The film set out to prove a point.
It made the point well.
I found myself getting more and more frustrated as I watched what is becoming far too common.
A young man and woman, walking on a road, come to a gorgeous vista.
As she takes out her phone to take a picture of the view, he gets down on one knee.
She turns around and gasps with surprise.
You hired a photographer, right? she asks, looking around.
Yeah, he’s right over there, the young man says.
From that point on, the proposal is not about the proposal of marriage.
From that point on, the proposal is about capturing the perfect proposal on camera.
The young woman directs, produces, and edits her own engagement.
I cringed as I watched the short film.
What have we become?
We cannot even allow moments to happen without editing them to perfection.
If it was even possible to edit them to perfection, the moment is not even genuine any more.
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 Peter 3:3,4)
God sees us as we are and loves us with all of our imperfections.
We do not need to edit ourselves before God.
No amount of editing, cropping, or lighting can change the love God has for His children.
God’s love is perfect.
We are not perfect, though we try to be.
We try to put forth the best of ourselves.
We try to hide our imperfections so that we come up to the world’s standards.
When all along, the only standard that matters is God’s standards.
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name and you are Mine.
(Isaiah 43:1)
You are Mine.
That is enough.
No editing, cropping, or special lighting necessary.
God sees us as we are and He loves us.
https://www.facebook.com/johnbcrist/videos/1001393156662430/
The video is funny and sad–are we really so aware of being “on line” all the time? You are right–the only Person we have to “impress” is our God.
Sue,
Maybe this will be a gentle reminder for all of us. There is freedom in caring only what God thinks. He loves us unconditionally.
Gina
Absolutely true and why i never watch “reality” TV. Point well made. Nonetheless, thanks for the morning giggle as well!
Karen,
I am glad this made you giggle! Unfortunately, it seems to be the cultural norm. We have to be intentional not to get caught up in it. I guess I should have left the shadows on our faces!
Gina