the journey

Photography, like life, is a journey. You can't learn every single thing there is to know about photography in a day. Or a week. Or a month. Probably never. No matter how much you learn, there is always more. Sometimes it's easy to think that where we are at is good enough, but if we settle for less, we'll never experience the results that only come from knowing we can improve, and working towards that goal. This doesn't just apply to photography...it applies to almost everything we do in life. Riding or showing horses, competing in sports, school work, putting up a fence...just fill in the blank!

Today I had an "ah-ha!" moment that reminded me just how much of a learning adventure photography is. While watching (or shall I say photographing) the little kiddos outside, I figured out what playing around with the metering and focus settings on my camera does. It was one of those moments where I felt like jumping up and down and wondering why I hadn't thought of re-setting it before! I have found that improvement doesn't come by letting the camera stay in it's bag and wishing I could improve - I've got to actually pick up the camera and start shooting!

On a more serious note, our walk with the Lord is also a journey. No matter how deep of a relationship you have, it can always go deeper. There is never a point where we can say that we have arrived and we have the absolute best relationship with Him that could ever be obtained. It just doesn't work that way. You would have to be perfect in order to be able to say that with complete confidence...and since no one is perfect, no one can say it truthfully. Sadly, we often settle for less when we could have more. We settle for a shallow, "comfortable" relationship that doesn't require much devotion on our part, when we could be living a life of radical obedience and experience amazing things that just boggle our minds. This is such an important thing to realize! When we feel like our relationship is at a standstill, we mustn't let ourselves get into the mindset that it's "good enough". God desires that we grow in Him every single day of our lives - He wants to have a close relationship with us! If we truly desire to experience more, we've got to intentionally seek the Lord. Since we aren't perfect people, our relationship with the Lord can always get better, no matter how "good" it may seem. But we also need to realize that we can't do it on our own. It takes surrendering ourselves completely to the Lord, and asking Him to help us every step of the way. It takes time...it's a journey...a learning process.

So are you ready for an adventure? An amazing journey?
I am!

I would love to hear what "learning adventures" you have had lately!

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."