Some people
generically joke about how naïve people often view life as “rainbows and
butterflies”. Well, I truly believe my life is “rainbows and butterflies” –
maybe not all the time, but for the most part it really is.
What does
that saying signify? For me the rainbows communicate the ability for colorful,
beautiful moments to appear and for at least a second take one’s attention from
whatever they are focused on. They may be rare, but they are anticipated,
marveled, and remembered long after they have disappeared. On the other hand,
butterflies are fairly common. They are not quite as large, not quite as
awe-inspiring, and not quite as noticeable; nevertheless, while few are
memorable, their existence brings little bursts of joy and delight each time
one is spotted. This set of photographs portraying “My World” captures my
personal rainbows and butterflies.
The first
rainbow pictured is of Maya and me at Starbucks. Maya is an incredible
fourteen-year-old back in Louisville that I may love more than almost anyone else on
the planet. I have had the complete joy of
mentoring her for over four years, walking through life with her during her
super-awkward middle school years, her first kiss, her first real boyfriend, dances, times when she thought God wasn't listening to her, and the
temptations of high school. Whenever I have the chance to go home, most of my
days are spent with her. Whether it’s long conversations about life and God at
Starbucks or hours at her house eating dinner followed by a RedBox movie or a
chat session on her bed, that rainbow is much anticipated, marveled, and
remembered.
The other rare
opportunity photographed is getting to watch Broncos games with my daddy. He’s
taught me to love the game of football ever since I can really remember, and
whenever there comes a time when I’m actually at home and the Broncos are
actually televised in Louisville, you will find me sitting right next to my
daddy silently cheering them on with every play. Sometimes when I’m homesick,
those are the moments I yearn to go back to. That rainbow is much anticipated,
marveled, and remembered.
My final
rainbow is represented through the photo of the communion plates. These
specific plates can be found in the 3rd-5th grade worship
room at my home church in Louisville. Not only is the breaking of bread and the
drinking of wine grape juice to remember my Jesus a big part of my
world, but in the children’s ministry at Southeast it means even more. Sometimes
when I am home for breaks I get the opportunity to lead a couple hundred kids
in a communion meditation before they have their personal time with Jesus. This
meditation consists of a 1-3 minute mini-sermon; because of my love for
speaking the truth of the love of Christ in front of people, those times are
treasured. That rainbow is much anticipated, marveled, and remembered.
As for the
butterfly-like times of joy and delight, I have three pictures of times like
those as well. The first shows dinner with the “Me(a)g(h)ans” in the Milligan
caf. Since a bunch of my friends are named different variations of Me(a)g(h)an,
oftentimes we refer to ourselves as the “Me(a)g(h)ans”. Much of my life
consists of eating and friends. That pair goes extremely well together. Even
though the cafeteria food isn’t ideal, the times spent around those tables hold
endless amounts of laughter, conversation, and the confirmation I want that I
am loved. Even though it’s a common occurrence, dinner with friends feeds my
soul.
The next
butterfly is portrayed through a close-up shot of my uniform for Firehouse.
I’ve been an employee at the Firehouse Restaurant for about 7 months, and with
3-4 shifts a week, it’s a pretty large part of my world. When I’m wearing that
uniform I get to talk to endless people, make endless salads, make (hopefully)
endless tips, eat endless barbecue, and deepen endless relationships with my
coworkers. It’s a place of joy for me as well as a place where I can distract
myself for a few hours from the “real world” if needed. Even though it’s a
common occurrence, working at Firehouse strengthens my soul.
My final
butterfly can be seen through a photograph of the sanctuary at my church. While
I definitely enjoy my time there, this picture represents a little more than
the weekends I get to attend Southeast. It communicates the large part of my
life that is spent worshipping my great God, studying to learn more about Him,
and learning to live like Jesus. Even though it’s a common occurrence, being
with my Jesus fills my soul.
While I oftentimes think my world
is super important, it’s really not. I pray that My World through these
photographs represents a little piece of God’s World lived out through me. And
if it doesn’t, then what My World is doesn’t really matter now, does it?
