{"id":124,"date":"2012-11-29T14:56:36","date_gmt":"2012-11-29T19:56:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/apertureoflight\/?p=124"},"modified":"2012-11-29T15:01:02","modified_gmt":"2012-11-29T20:01:02","slug":"if-you-could-do-anything","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/apertureoflight\/2012\/11\/if-you-could-do-anything.html","title":{"rendered":"If you could do anything"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

If you could do anything<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>What would it be?\u00a0 We were all asked this question in Kindergarden.\u00a0 I know my answer has changed since then, as many of ours has.\u00a0 I can recall my little brother saying that he wanted to be an ice cream man!<\/p>\n

My answer came clear to me at around 13, the day I got my first camera.\u00a0 From that day on, I knew I was in love with photography.\u00a0 Later on, when asked what I wanted to do in life, I said, \u201cI want to be a travel photographer\u201d.<\/p>\n

Let me tell you though, that dream has been through it\u2019s share of criticism, challenge and disappointment.\u00a0 By, college, I was convinced that this dream was just too big for a number of reasons:<\/p>\n

-too much competition<\/p>\n

-photography is an expensive \u201chobby\u201d, where on earth will you get the money for travel? Gear? Etc.<\/p>\n

-you will be a starving artist, settle for something here that is steady and has benefits<\/p>\n

\u201cOk, you know, you\u2019re right\u201d, I said.\u00a0 \u201cThat sounds so overwhelming.\u00a0 I don\u2019t even know where to start.\u201d\u00a0 I ended up majoring in graphic design in college, thinking that with this profession I could at least have a steady job that is art related.\u00a0 Not that I don\u2019t enjoy design as well, but I eventually came to realize that it just wasn\u2019t my passion.\u00a0 I am a firm believer in pursuing what you are passionate about.\u00a0 I have seen amazing things that have been done when the person involved is truly passionate about what they are doing, not just doing it for money or security.<\/p>\n

After graduation, as many of you are now experiencing, have yet to or did long ago, you are thrown out into the real world.\u00a0 Perhaps it was easier to find a job back in our parent\u2019s generation, but I realized quite soon after college that it was going to be a lot harder than expected.\u00a0 Sometimes we are under the impression that we are going to graduate and go right into our area of choice.\u00a0 Maybe some of us are fortunate enough to have that happen, but for a majority of us, we are stuck at the bottom of the ladder and as much as we fight to be higher, we have to take it one step at a time, literally.<\/p>\n

I have been through my share of ups and downs already.\u00a0 I came out of college excited, enthusiastic and ready to take on my career as a photographer.\u00a0 The reality of what that meant hit me pretty hard the first couple of months out of school.\u00a0 Basically, everything that I had imagined the journey to be was suddenly put into perspective for me and seemed totally different than expected.\u00a0 \u201cSo, I can\u2019t even shoot?\u00a0 What?\u00a0 All I get to do is hold your light for you?\u201d\u00a0 Business?\u00a0 What do you mean? \u00a0Yea, I know it\u2019s a business but it\u2019s more about the art, right?\u00a0 Shouldn\u2019t I be shooting?\u201d<\/p>\n

I was a little (or a lot) discouraged to find out that the road to being a successful photographer was a LONG one and starting out, I probably wouldn\u2019t even get to shoot very much.\u00a0 If you\u2019ve ever seen \u201cThe Devil Wears Prada\u201d, think of Anne Hathaway\u2019s character in that movie.\u00a0 That is you, only you report to the photographer, and forget doing any actually photography.\u00a0 BUT with that said, you would gain invaluable experience and learn the ins and outs of the business, (just make sure you are getting the respect you deserve).<\/p>\n

At that point in time, I was so idealistically thinking about how I wanted things to go, that I was frustrated at the thought of just being the sidekick who only got to carry the bags.\u00a0 I fell into the mindset of thinking that maybe photography really wasn\u2019t for me.\u00a0 Maybe it was never what I had always imagined it to be.\u00a0 If it\u2019s really all about business and no fun, why do that?\u00a0 So what now?<\/p>\n

To make a long story (shorter), I have been through many plan changes, job changes, ideas, etc. since then.\u00a0 Nothing had quite been working out until\u2026<\/p>\n

I thought I had finally settled on what to pursue.\u00a0 But last summer, I spent 3 \u00bd months in Hatteras, where I worked a seasonal job, enjoyed the island life and attended a great church.\u00a0 The last week that I was down there, my pastor asked me, \u201cWhat are you going to do when you go back home?\u201d\u00a0 I had somewhat of a plan in my head, but still wasn\u2019t super excited about it.\u00a0 I told him that my major was photography but I was yet to use that in a job so far.\u00a0 He told me that he knew someone who worked for a magazine.\u00a0 They were looking to train a new photojournalist.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019d be able to travel the world, dude!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

I was ecstatic!\u00a0 But the truth of the matter is, which I am learning more and more and am finally putting into perspective, nothing comes easily.\u00a0 HOWEVER, God does provide for those He wants to use for his purposes.<\/p>\n

I was abundantly blessed to receive the camera gear needed to get things started as well as the opportunity to learn from some very successful photographers.\u00a0 I have a strong sense of calling to reopen my eyes to the dream that I have always had, but thought was a nearly impossible reality.\u00a0 Let me say again, nothing comes easily.\u00a0 As amazing as this opportunity is, there is hard work ahead, but when we know that God has called us to something, the hard work is a joy.<\/p>\n

When I look back, I can see so many times where God was pushing me in this direction.\u00a0 I made the mistake of giving up too quickly when things seemed too hard.\u00a0 I am jumping in with both feet now, though I know it\u2019s going to be a slow process.\u00a0 I may be poor for a while, I may be criticized and discouraged, but I know that God has me at this point for a reason and if it is His will, he will provide (which He has already proven over and over).\u00a0 The best thing that I have learned is not to rush it.\u00a0 Don\u2019t expect everything now.\u00a0 Do what you love, love what you do and you will be recognized for it.\u00a0 Don\u2019t settle for second best, because you will feel that in your heart.\u00a0 You will know that there is more.\u00a0 Go get it!\u00a0 But most of all, listen to God and let Him direct you.\u00a0 He knows the desires of your heart.<\/p>\n

I wanted to share some verses I was reading this morning in Proverbs:<\/p>\n

\u201cCommit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.\u201d \u2013 Proverbs 16:3<\/p>\n

\u201cIn his heart, a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.\u201d \u2013 Proverbs 16:9<\/p>\n

And in Psalm 37:<\/p>\n

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.\u00a0 Commit your ways to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:\u00a0 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.\u201d \u2013 Psalm 37:4-6<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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If you could do anything \u00a0What would it be?\u00a0 We were all asked this question in Kindergarden.\u00a0 I know my answer has changed since then, as many of ours has.\u00a0 I can recall my little brother saying that he wanted to be an ice cream man! 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