Photos Have a Spiritual History
- What happens when you pull out photo albums and look at family pictures? Is your trip down memory lane a happy one or a bumpy one?
- In either case, you can experience new peace and understanding through family photo prayers.
- Step one is to enter into God's presence with your photo and with a hymn or an "Our Father".
- Pray: "Jesus, when I look at this photo I feel......." Then tell God what you need or what the person in the photo might need.
- Then thank God for something good about this person or about your relationship. To delve deeper try the steps below or visit christkey.com
Give Your Family Photos God's Voice
1.Who is in the photo? What was the occasion? Where and when? What might have happened right after the photo was taken?
Who is in the photo? What was the occasion? Where and when? What might have happened right after the photo was taken?2.Try story webbing to get in touch with the meaning of your photo. Start with a word that comes to mind when you look at it. Draw a circle around the word and generate more words, until one word or phrase strikes you as a good beginning for a description of the photo.
Try story webbing to get in touch with the meaning of your photo. Start with a word that comes to mind when you look at it. Draw a circle around the word and generate more words, until one word or phrase strikes you as a good beginning for a description of the photo.Example: This is one of Harry's official good bye photos taken with his grandfather in 1943, just before he left for war in the South Pacific. It was Grandpa Barton who had taught him about carpentry, ice cubes and singing. Today Grandpa had one last lesson, a Soldier's Prayer to the Holy Spirit. Harry would carry this prayer and use it every day, in Saipan, in Okinawa and in a dozen horrible places. And by God's grace he would return in 1945 with two more years to enjoy his grandfather.
3.With whom would you want to share this photo and the story behind it? Why? How was God present or evident in the event behind the picture? What place does this photo have in the story of your family's faith journey? How could you share this piece of your family's spiritual heritage with loved ones?
With whom would you want to share this photo and the story behind it? Why? How was God present or evident in the event behind the picture? What place does this photo have in the story of your family's faith journey? How could you share this piece of your family's spiritual heritage with loved ones?4.Write a brief note to your family about this photo and share what is says to you about God's love in your family. Psalm 24 reminds us that we all need to see Jesus in daily life and in family events. "Lord, this is the people what longs to see your face."
Write a brief note to your family about this photo and share what is says to you about God's love in your family. Psalm 24 reminds us that we all need to see Jesus in daily life and in family events. "Lord, this is the people what longs to see your face."5.Consider gathering about 10 to 20 photos that could be combined with a few mini-stories about your life or a parent's life. Include one or two faith sharing stories in the mix. Don’t go overboard with "spiritualizing" every photo. Let God work through a few well-placed faith stories. Start a diary or blog about your experiences as you view photos and prepare them for sharing with your family.
Consider gathering about 10 to 20 photos that could be combined with a few mini-stories about your life or a parent's life. Include one or two faith sharing stories in the mix. Don’t go overboard with "spiritualizing" every photo. Let God work through a few well-placed faith stories. Start a diary or blog about your experiences as you view photos and prepare them for sharing with your family. Tips for preserving photos and the faith stories behind them
1.Handle photos by the edges or with gloves. Pray with them often.
Handle photos by the edges or with gloves. Pray with them often.2.Keep photos out of attics, basements and direct sunlight.
Keep photos out of attics, basements and direct sunlight.3.Label photos with a soft pencil. Collect longer captions for an album insert.
Label photos with a soft pencil. Collect longer captions for an album insert.4.Copy important photos with a scanner (setting of at least 300 dpi or 600 dpi).
Copy important photos with a scanner (setting of at least 300 dpi or 600 dpi).5.Store photos with your captions, notes, faith stories and plans for the collection.
Store photos with your captions, notes, faith stories and plans for the collection.6.Copy black and white photos IN COLOR. Use archival paper, pages and albums.
Copy black and white photos IN COLOR. Use archival paper, pages and albums.7.Ask a family member to help you sort photos for sharing with everyone.
Ask a family member to help you sort photos for sharing with everyone. Preserving Your Spiritual Heritage with Photos, Stories and Religious Memorabilia
This workshop explores many ways that grandparents, aunts and uncles can discover and hand on their unique family spirituality. Possible topics include: 1. Prayer and faith sharing with photos, 2. Unearthing family faith stories, 3. How to create or edit a spiritual journal and 4. Printing options for combining your unique witness with photos and memorabilia. 5. The use of Ethical Wills.
