Today after my morning meditation I went to take some photos. I needed that time. First, because there’s something in my make up that needs that creative outlet, that needs to express itself. It’s also a part of my life that helps me to connect with God and that I like to share with others. Basically, I just used a lot of words to say my photography is important to me. The other reason that I needed to take that time is that I did not have a chance to shoot any yesterday, and I want to stay on schedule with my project 365. I needed two images today to be current.
A few weeks ago, shortly after starting Project365, I saw a roadrunner while driving down a county road in search of images. I couldn’t get him. He quickly retreated away from the road to a distance my 200mm lens could not reach effectively. It frustrated me. I have been after a good shot of a roadrunner for years. Today, while driving down a road on the opposite end of the county, I came across another roadrunner.
I had not even thought of taking a picture of a roadrunner today. In fact, the reason I chose the road in the first place had nothing to do with the possible wildlife in the area. I went down that road in the hopes of finding a useable angle from which to shoot this amazing tree I’d seen from the highway. I didn’t get the tree that caught my attention, but it took me down the road that gave me my roadrunner after all these years.
I almost missed him. I drove by and saw a second before it was too late that there was a roadrunner sitting on a fence post. I never would have looked there if I’d been looking for a roadrunner. Every one of these birds that I have seen in the wild has been on the ground or flying short distances low over the grass. I did not know that they perch on things several feet off the ground. And my lack of knowledge would have caused me to miss the animal had I been looking for him.
But I did see him. I stopped the truck, backed up, and grabbed my camera. I fired off several frames from several different angles, moving the truck to change angles, and the bird sat there and watched me. When I felt I had all I would be able to get at that time, I turned the camera off and set it down. Immediately the roadrunner glided off the post to the ground and scurried off. In a matter of a few seconds after I turned off the camera, he could no longer be seen. It felt as though he had waited there for me, then waited for me to get the photograph, and then went on about his day. I felt so blessed.
It struck me that this event served a purpose. There is something I needed to learn or be reminded of through this special moment. I wasn’t thinking about what I wanted to shoot or going off of any list of images I want to capture. I set out with no clear idea of what I wanted other than that I wanted to find an image that meant something to me. I wanted something that helped me to connect with God on a personal level and that might bless others as well.
Over the years I have taken days and went looking for roadrunners. While I have seen a few, I have never been able to shoot a useable image of one. Today I went looking for God, and He gave me a roadrunner. This is how it’s supposed to work/ When I seek God, He gives me the desires of my heart. The desires that are good for me, that will further my journey towards becoming the man I was created to be will be realized. Those that do not suddenly are no longer desires of mine. I find that by surrendering to God and seeking Him first rather than other things keeps me from being denied anything.
When I don’t get what I want when I want it I can choose to become angry and afraid. But when I let it go and just try to let God guide me, I will find the things I need when the time is right. I chose not to keep driving that other road hunting a roadrunner shot, even though I felt frustrated at missing one again. I let it go. Then in an entirely different location, when I needed it most, there was the image I had so longed for. Not only that, but it was an image I had never imagined and that was better than what I had desired. I wouldn’t have posed that shot so well if I could have, because it never would have occurred to me to put a roadrunner on a fence post. God gave me the desire of my heart, but did it one better. I can have that in every area of my life, security, jobs, relationships, even recovery as long as I put my relationship with God first. Today served as an object lesson than if I pursue my own goals I will only sell myself short on what God wants to give me. I will always treasure this photo because of that revelation.
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