You may not realize it, but we all have a filter. It's affected by many things.
How we grew up, who our friends were, what pain we've suffered, what joys we've shared.
But one of the biggest filters we have is what we believe. About ourselves, others and God.
As a photographer, I know that my filter choice makes a BIG difference in the quality of my shots.
Look at these.
Isn't the purple just cool?
This orange tint makes the photo feel much warmer than the purple above.
Notice how the blue makes the photo feel cold. And, it's harder to tell if was taken during the day or night.
The wrong filter can make taking photos tough. And a broken filter can ruin a perfectly good shoot. How do I know this? Just look at this...
Yep. Only a week after I had bought a new lens and filter, I fell on some wet concrete during a shoot and my camera went flying. It even took a shot midair just to taunt me.
I picked up my camera and tried to photograph something to see if the lens still worked. I found out that it couldn't take a picture. The thick, broken filter confused the lens so it couldn't focus on anything. Life was a blur to the camera.
That's when it hit me. We walk around with broken filters, still trying to make sense of our lives. But we don't have a proper focus. Often times, the pain I've gone through has affected my outlook on life. Sometimes, it's fear that affects me. Maybe it's loss. Or heartache. Or disappointment.
But it doesn't matter exactly what the broken filter is, not if it's changing my outlook on life for the worse.
For me, the only answer for a broken filter is to go back to the Bible and God. What does He have to say about my life, my pain, my sorrow, my joys? Because I often let the hard stuff get my focus off God.
Do I really believe God is in control of all my life? That He can bring good out of every situation? That since He forgave me, that I need to forgive others? That He will give me the grace to forgive?
Those are the questions I wrestle with. Honestly, I don't jump toward forgiveness every time. I struggle to forgive, to let go of pain.
But God is gracious to love me anyway and won't let me go just because I'm struggling. No, He tries to show me that my filter is broken. That I need to trust Him for each day.
And let me tell you, it's awesome to get the broken filter off and put the right one on. Look at this blue sky. That's the power of the right filter...a beautiful, clean, intensely colored shot.
So, what filter in your life is broken? Ask God to give you one that brings more color and beauty and meaning to your life.
Grace and peace,
Mary
