Photographing God
It seemed preposterous to me that a person would claim to be photographing God. "God is spirit," Jesus insisted, "and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Indeed!
Even so, Toby Cohen thinks in a qualified sense that he is taking pictures of the Almighty. It started in the following manner. He was talking with an irate person who asked if he believed in God. "Sometimes," Cohen candidly replied.
"Okay," the other skeptically protested, "why don’t you photograph God?" This provided the impetus for Cohen’s unlikely project.
In particular, he took pictures of persons appearing to connect with the Almighty. Two especially impressed me. The one was of a solitary individual with arms extended toward heaven, seemingly oblivious to all else. The other was of a person literally jumping with joy.
Given this precedent, I began to think of pertinent biblical examples. "And why do you worry about clothes?" Jesus rhetorically inquired. "See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these" (Matt. 6:28-29).
In a more inclusive sense, the Lord declares: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" (Isa. 66:1-2).
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made," the psalmist allows; "your works are wonderful, I know that full well" (Psa. 139;14).
"Come, you who are blessed by my Father," the king will declare. "For I was hungry and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I need clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me" (Matt. 25:34-36).
"Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?" the righteous will inquire. "When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"
Whereupon, the magistrate will reply: "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." As in the above examples, their God connection is cited.
"Lord," Philip urged, "show us the Father and that will be enough for us" (John 14:8).
"Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father," Jesus insisted. "How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Don’t you know that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work." All things considered, Cohen does not appear to lack examples. Whether in the creation surrounding us, the person and teaching of Jesus, or the labors of folk who meet the needs of others.
In greater detail, note that my publication website touches on a wide range of topics: http://www.ourchurch.com/member/p/publications
Article submitted Wednesday, June 02, 2010 & read 382 times.
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» left by Carol Allen Anfinsen(2) (1 year 248 days ago.)
Great article, Morris. You write with such clarity.Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 246 days ago.)
Thanks for your gracious comment.,
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» left by Linda DeWitt (1 year 237 days ago.)
Loved your article.One of my favorite postcards I titled the Face of God. It is a beautiful cloudy sky with a dove flying around. When I need to see God I look at that. Thanks for sharing your photo, now I'll have visuals on overload. Can never have too many.Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 237 days ago.)
Thank you for your appreciated comment.
Morris
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