Featured image for “Behind the Photo”

Behind the Photo

April 30, 2024

“These things I have spoken to you while I am with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” 

John 14:25-26

Pictures capture a moment in time. A good photograph transports you to a time and place but also a frame of mind. You experience your senses of the moment from when it was captured and the story behind it. Pictures take you back.Do you have one that tells a story bigger than the image on the print or screen? One that always makes you smile?

Here’s one of my favorite pictures from an era. It was before two of our children joined our family and during a time when we were caring for our two nieces. The kids were young. Our lives were chaotic. Deanna and I were running on empty but our hearts were full. I love this picture because of how it captures the joy and delight of each of the kids. It warms my heart every time I see it.

But today, I want to tell you about what was going on behind the camera. If you have children you know how hard it is to get them all looking. It’s even harder to get them smiling—even half smiling. Again, do you see the smiles on the faces of my family. Everyone of them has a 1,000 watt smile from ear to ear. Do you want to take a guess at how many pictures have been taken of my family through the years that didn’t capture smiles on everyone’s face?

This picture is what it is because of Uncle Logan. My brother in law sold out, spur of the moment, to get all the kids to look, smile, and laugh. He made a fool of himself to capture this moment. More than bunny ears over the head of our photographer, Aunt Mary. He did more than “say cheese.” Uncle Logan started hooting and hollering like an orangutan. He was waving his arms and jumping up and down. He startled us with his love and laughter. This moment was captured because he risked embarrassment to bring joy. And Mary clicked the shutter button at the right time. Thanks Uncle Logan!

When I think about ways to love like Jesus, I think about Uncle Logan in this moment. For a click of a shutter on a camera, Uncle Logan–his entire being–was about making my kids look and smile. He brought out the joy and delight of my kids. For a few seconds, it was everything for him. And, because of it, this picture remains one of my all time favorites.

Sometimes loving like Jesus means acting like a primate to get a kids to smile. Sometimes it means a moment of sacrificing your comfort so someone else can experience peace.

Making someone smile from behind the camera is a frame of reference for you to walk through your days. What can you do and how can you live to help others capture moments and put a smile on someone’s heart?

I believe this is much of the delight of the Holy Spirit. Sure, He’s in the midst of your moments—of this I have no doubt–He’s in front of the camera with you. But, I also think the Spirit is orchestrating the scene from behind the camera. He is there. He is working. Unseen and subtly present. He’s working for more than smiles—not that the Holy Spirit doesn’t rejoice when you rejoice. But the work of the Holy Spirit is deeper and more profound than capturing a photo.

If you are at all like me, it would be really helpful if the Holy Spirit would start acting like an orangutan. Oh how helpful it would be to get clear signs and obvious focal points from the Spirit. I could use some help knowing where to look and when to smile. He’s more subtle than that, isn’t he?

And yet, He’s not. His work is spelled out pretty plainly in scripture. He is the Helper who empowers you to put into action the call of Jesus. It’s the Spirit that stirs faith, emboldens love, enables sacrifice, and directs service towards others.

How do you respond?

Echoing Jesus, the Spirit is about bringing you life. He breaths life into your lungs. He helps you seek adventures with purpose. He deepens your impact in the lives of others through service and sacrifice—again echoing Jesus.

A life lived in the Spirit is one of trust. It is confidence that He won’t fail you, even as you fail Him. He is working, even if you can’t see Him in the frame of the camera shot. He’s making you holy, even as you continue in the filth of your sin. The Holy Spirit is behind the scenes and under the surface. And He doesn’t grow weary of bringing you the very best of life.


Looking back, when was a time you recall the Holy Spirit working behind the camera? Sit in the memory and remember His goodness.


Share: