Life Celebration Photography - Using our passions

I've written about this before but have recently had to begin thinking about what it means in my life right now. The idea is using the passions and talents we have in us to have an impact on others and serve God.

There is a real temptation to compartmentalize our lives. Profession here. Family there. Faith in this box. Etc. It's been said that we wear different hats depending on what role we're playing...the dad, the photographer, the minister, the Christian. But it should be obvious that this is flawed thinking. The challenge is finding out how to wear all the hats at the same time (haha)...how all of the pieces of life fit together.

This in mind, I've put a lot of thought into how to use photography to impact others with the love of Jesus. And I'm very excited about the good possibility of shortly beginning to do portrait work for hospice patients and their families.

I shared this idea with the chaplain from the service that helped us through everything with my dad at the end of last year. It had been suggested to us by a close friend to think about taking photos with my dad through it all...that we might want those later. But it was too difficult to think about doing. Now, a few months later, I wish I'd gone ahead and done it. Sharing that with the chaplain, she said she felt the same way about her mother...that her final struggle was a part of her life not something to be ignored and forgotten.

It will be interesting to see how this goes...what kind of response I will get. And while it will be challenging, emotionally, I anticipate this becoming one of the most rewarding aspects of my work.