Photos Have a Spiritual Dimension
Psalm 24 reminds us that we all need to find the face of Jesus in daily life and in family events. "Lord, this is the people what longs to see your face." But does this happen when you pull out photo albums and look at family pictures? Is your trip down memory lane a happy one or a bumpy one? Experience new peace and joy through family photo prayers.
- Step one: Enter God's presence with your photo and with a hymn or an "Our Father".
- Step two: Pray,: "Jesus, when I look at this photo I feel.......
- Step three: Thank God for something about this person or about your relationship.
Optional: Write a mini--memory with the steps below. For more about faith sharing with photos click here.
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 or right before the photo was taken?
Who is in the photo? What was the occasion? Where and when? What might have happened right after or right before 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 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 carpentry. It was Grandpa who taught him not to take a second drink until the ice cubes in the first one melted. And it was Grandpa who taught hims so many songs during family gatherings. That day in 1943, Grandpa had one more thing to share. He gave Harry a Soldier's Prayer to carry and use every day, in Saipan, in Okinawa and in a dozen horrible places. And by God grace Harry would return in 1945 and have two more years to enjoy his grandfather.
3.With whom would you want to share your photo and the story behind it? How was God present in the events 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 family, spiritual heritage with loved ones?
With whom would you want to share your photo and the story behind it? How was God present in the events 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 family, 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.
Write a brief note to your family about this photo and share what is says to you about God's love in your family.5.Consider gathering about 5 to 10 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 experience of viewing photos and preparing them for sharing with your family.
Consider gathering about 5 to 10 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 experience of viewing photos and preparing 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. Sharing Your Spiritual Heritage Through 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.
