To Reach
I did not grow up standing in front of a painting and studying every detail, or choice the artist made.
That changed a few years ago after my conversion to catholicism.
Our priest printed a giant copy of The Creation of Adam and hung it in the church basement for one of our First Friday Saint Symposium Classes. The lessons were usually about saints, sacred art, and the sacraments.
As he explained the symbolism and some of the different interpretations of the painting, I found myself admiring the meaning and detail so much more.
I really focussed in on the space between God's hand and Adam's.
That tiny gap has so much meaning. God is reaching toward Adam, but He doesn't force him. He gives him the freedom to reach back. The freedom to choose life.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I carry this painting with me in my photography journey.
In February, I got to see it in the Sistine Chapel. Seeing it in person made me appreciate it even more.
Every engagement session since has included a photo of the couple reaching for each other's hands..
I've always loved those photos, but I never made the connection between the painting and the photos I was taking.
Tonight, I was editing one of those engagement photos. I looked up and saw Michelangelo's masterpiece that I have framed on my dining room wall and It clicked. I realized why I take those pictures...those hands represent a choice.
They chose to close the gap. They chose to reach out instead of staying apart. They are choosing life, just as God intended.
Looking back, I don't think those hand photos have ever just been about composition or posing. I took the meaning with me and it became part of who God was shaping me into as a photographer. He is more present in my actions than I realized. It's beautiful how much He cares, isn't it?
The Catholic Church Teaches a beautiful framework when preparing a couple for marriage.
Free, total, faithful, and fruitful.
This is the model the Lord gives us for authentic, divine love.
He gives us the freedom to respond.
This photo of hands has become so significant. Every time I click the shutter, I'll remember I am capturing a small reminder of the Lord's loving example: to reach.
