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Wonder was my One Word for 2011.

Though it did not seem as if I was pursuing it intentionally… rather like a warm blanket on a cold winter evening, it was exactly what I needed to inspire me photographically.

About halfway through 2011 I sensed that God wanted me to lean into another word for 2011:

Faithfulness? Really? So I began to “Wonder” if I had failed at “Wonder” for 2011. As I struggled through what “Faithfulness” and “Wonder” had to do with each other, my friend Melissa and I had a pivotal conversation:

I said: My word is “Wonder” and what God has taught me is that before I can get to “wonder” I have to see “faithfulness” – now… how the two of them go together? I have no idea, but that is how my year is forming itself out.

Melissa said: I never would have thought of those two things, but think about how Peter and John got to see the wonder of the transfiguration because of their faithfulness to Jesus. How many times have I asked God for the wonder-full things without first remaining faithful to Him?

And just like that… the more I stayed faithful to the little things, the more God’s wonder showed up. My job was faithfulness in tasks He gave to me… God’s job was to display His wonder.

Mostly I saw that with my photography.

My weekends are primarily dedicated to photographic outings, whether they are photo safaris, lessons, photo shoots, or like last weekend – my first wedding. Sundays are a time mostly of processing those photos and watching my skills develop, seeing God’s hand of creativity show up in shots that I did not even know I had taken.

My job: Faithfulness and belief that God is a wonder-working God.

My photography skills – by the grace of God – grew this year and I am so thankful. After less than one year, I am already moving into a portfolio-building stage… which, when I stop to think about it, is pretty WONDER-full!

So though I could not actively pursue wonder – by seeking faithfulness in all of my tasks – God showed His wonder to me everywhere I went, and I am incredibly grateful.

I’ve already started contemplating my One Word for 2012 (below)… and it is a doozy!

Now I’m offline for the rest of 2011 getting the new site set up – see you next year!