I took this photo last year on a drive back to Canyon from my hometown. For months it had no purpose, but to fill up space on my desktop. One day I decided that I was going to put it up for sale at a local coffee shop. I had never sold any of my photographs before. I always thought that my stuff was ok, but no one would really pay money for it or find value in it. Months later I continued to stare at it as it took up room on my desktop. I finally sent it off to be printed and framed. Once I had the framed photo in my hands there were a few days that I would go to grab a coffee at this local place and tell myself that I was going to show the owner the photograph and ask permission to sell it there, but it never happened. I would always talk myself out of it.. "it isn't good enough"... "it's not like the rest of the artwork in there, it won't fit in". So, for a few more months it looked pretty on the wall of my dorm. Finally, after much encouragement from friends I walked into that coffee shop with my photo and asked to display my photograph for sale on their walls. The owner liked it enough to say yes. My photograph is now hanging at Palace Coffee Company.
Now, this isn't a top notch art studio and my photo most likely won't sell, but their is an opportunity for it to. There is an opportunity for someone to find value in it. Too many times I have missed opportunities or have not taken full advantage of them because of fear. Fear of "I'm not good enough", fear of others opinions and fear of failing. Romans 8:15 says 'for you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons. by whom we cry "Abba! Father!". I have been adopted by the highest of highs. My father rules the universe and by his son's blood I have been set free. And through him I am more than a conquerer. This may seem like over the top for simply working up the courage to hang a picture up in a coffee shop, but it really isn't. If we allow the smallest decisions to be dictated by fear than how can we expect to be bold and fearless in the bigger decisions? Fear dictates so many decisions in our lives and we miss out. Those around us are missing out on you and witnessing how Christ is uniquely shown through you. So many times because of fear we fall back instead of taking that step of faith forward. Sure we may fail, but why can't we fail forward into growth and freedom instead of backward into what we already know so well (bondage and comfort)? This photo reminds me that like car lights on the highway, one after the other opportunities can pass us by. In my opinion if Christ is in us and for us then we've already won. Everything else is an opportunity for us to grab hold of and allow him to be magnified through us.
So I encourage you to be bold, courageous and embrace your purpose. Take that next step in fear of the Lord instead of the thought of others, the unknown or failure.
P.s. Check out Palace Coffee !! Great people and coffee =)
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