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In the Fall of 2015 I took a Black and White Photography Class in college and I LOVED it! It was extremely challenging ( I went through 5 film cameras in the course of one semester) but SO much fun! We actually shot the photos using 35mm film cameras, developed our own film and made prints using actual chemicals.
I wasn’t a huge fan of rolling the film or developing it (I don’t like to be in totally dark spaces and I don’t have a lot of patience) but I LOVED developing the prints. I don’t believe in magic, but developing photos is the closest I’ve ever come to magic. It’s hard to describe exactly how it feels to place what looks like a plain sheet of photo paper into a chemical that looks like water, swish it around and see an image appear. It’s incredible to watch. Given the chance and a working camera, I’d love to do that again!
“Worry is the dark room in which negatives develop”
~Tauren Wells
While listening to the radio the other night I heard this phrase and it’s stuck with me. I was instantly reminded of my time spent in the Dark Room and what I learned…There’s three different chemicals we used to make our prints. I don’t remember their names but I do remember that if the photo didn’t make it into all three chemicals and you walked into the light your photo wouldn’t be as sharp or last as long.
The dark room is well, dark. Sitting in that room surrounded by our worries and fears it’s easy to stay there. Swishing around the worst-case scenarios and what all could possibly go wrong. It’s when we walk into the light both physically and spiritually that we’re able to SEE what’s really going on.
I was also reminded of something else…God has a plan and a purpose for your life.
There is a reason for everything that you go through this side of Heaven. Just like there was a reason why that photo had to be in all three chemicals before going into the light the same is true for us. We may want to jump from A to Z. But if we don’t go through all the steps we may get what we want but it won’t be as good as if we had waited and taken it one step at a time.
Each and every thing we go through this side of Heaven is uniquely chosen for us by God. Isaiah 55:8-9 remind us that God’s thoughts and ways are far above ours. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God can do more than we can ask or even imagine!
Life may not make sense to us now, but something that we have to remember is that we can’t see the whole picture.
One of the unique things about developing your own photos is that the photo develops differently each time. Most of the time the middle of the photo appeared first and depending how the paper was placed into the chemical it could even be upside down. It’s only by waiting and watching the photo as it continues to develop that the picture becomes clear.
One of the things that I’m noticing through reading the Bible this year and my own personal experience is that where God guides He provides. So many of my own personal struggles have to do with trusting that God will provide and guide. That He’ll make a way even when it looks impossible. I’m noticing that He provides for what He commands. It’s up to us to take Him at His word and watch it all unfold with an eager expectation because the story is just beginning!
Until next time,
Bailey Sue
