Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 08/May/2022]

It was there all the time (but check your priority)

A few weeks ago, we visited Kew Gardens, and I took my new camera to record the event. It was a beautiful Spring day and I was looking forward to trying out various settings, and capturing a wonderful display of God’s creation waking up after winter.

Rather than shoot on automatic, I wanted to try out my own settings, so that I had more control over the final appearance of my images. We enjoyed a wonderful day, with me taking way too many pictures; I was so looking forward to reviewing and critiquing the fruit of my creative genius.

Unfortunately, as I opened image after image there was just total darkness, or at best a vague outline of who knew what? On checking, I realised I had set the camera to fully manual rather than my intended aperture priority. I hadn’t reviewed any of my images as I went along, and my heart sank, as I presumed that everything was lost.

With little hope of success, I loaded the files into Photoshop (other photo editing software is available). To my delight, as I changed some basic settings, the original data was transformed into recognisable pictures; with further tweaks, the photos were restored to the way I had hoped they would have been all along.

I wonder if this reflects our relationship with God? Even though things may seem totally dark, we are never lost. Eugene Peterson said ‘God loves you. He is on your side. He’s coming after you. He’s relentless’.

Too often, we want control, and it doesn’t work out. But our original design has been there all the time; we can be restored by the work of Holy Spirit, if we can just stop, take some time, and listen to His guidance, encouragement, and sometimes correction. When we align with His settings, we are restored to being image bearers of God. And perhaps it’s worth regularly carrying out a spiritual health check, just to check our priorities?

‘This is what the Lord says: stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’
Jeremiah 6:16 [NIVUK]

‘Whether you turn to the left or the right, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”’
Isaiah 30:21 [NIVUK]

‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, His good, pleasing and perfect will.’
Romans 12:2 [NIVUK]

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.