Gift: Photography
Glorification: Meet my dear friend and classmate, Kat, a beautiful girl-inside and out-who has a God-given talent of photography. Kat, who played with polaroids during her free time as a child and has always been fascinated by images, is a twenty year old college girl who wants to teach those with disabilities through means of art, a career choice that is inspired by her parents and is also out of a desire to have an occupation that she will love because of her passion behind the actions, that is, behind her art-specifically photography-and loving people. Although Kat is a full-time student, she also runs her own photography business that she started in 2009. When asked why she loves photography so much Kat answered, 'I get to capture God's creation through my lens and through that show people just how really beautiful they are-often a picture can take what someone thinks are flaws and turn them into characteristics that show through the photography'. God allows Kat to see His beauty through photography, which she says helps her to see how the Lord sees us- beautifully made with unique potential to live as children of God. 'A picture can capture who a person is. A person can look at his or her self and see flaws, but in my pictures I try to portray that person's characteristics to try to get a message across that each person has the potential to be who Christ made him or her to be'. The Spirit is using Kat's gift of photography to bring joy and life to those she works with. Kat says, 'Oftentimes people are down or depressed, and then they see themselves genuinely smiling in my photographs and it can encourage them to embrace joy and choose life'. Kat's favorite aspects of her gift are getting to know her subjects better and the diversity that working with people can bring to the table. When asked to elaborate on this Kat responded, 'I love diversity. Not everyone that I photograph is a Christian, and because of that I am pushed to love them in different ways. It also furthers my knowledge of the world and God's people and prepares me to interact with those who are different from me'.
Kat is your average college girl with a God-given ability, a talent that He is using in her life to love on people and bring them to Him. Have you ever thought of using photography as a means to reach God's children? If this is a gift of yours, I encourage you to spend some time in prayer about how the Lord may want you to use it. If you aren't sure because you have little experience with photography, maybe give it a try. The Lord may reveal an ability to you that you never knew you had!
