Anchored, Imperfect & Beautiful

Tomorrow is a big day- a lovely wedding taking place at the Minnesota Arboretum and the Minneapolis Golf Club. I am beyond excited about photographing the day, the love, the emotion and the stories lived out.  I always like to spend the Friday before a wedding looking for inspiration and living out inspiration.  Today, that meant going for a walk with my little ones and soaking up the sun, warmth and beautiful leaves that are just starting their transformation.  It also meant reading up on a few of my favorite photographers and I came across this from Gina Zeidler:


"Y’all will you join me in battling the the lie that everyone else has it together and we don’t. How you might ask? By being honest, humble and real.  Admitting our faults with our triumphs so that we all can see each other as we really are. Imperfect and beautiful." 


This topic has been on my mind, heart & lips as of late.  This issue of trying to communicate that we have it 'all together' is an issue of humanity- and is probably more pervasive in our country than most.  It is an issue of pride first and foremost.  But I think it is also a fear.  We fear being transparent because it leaves us vulnerable.  And what I am learning again, through recent hurt from a friendship I held dear and the forming and building of many new, blessed friendships, is that vulnerability is beautiful & scary all at once.  But it doesn't have to be scary.  And this is the beautiful part...


"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us."  - 1 John 4:18-19


When I am connected to Christ- when I am in the word, praying, and tuning my heart, mind and actions according to His will, and His way, I  feel secure.  I know I am loved by the King of kings, my Creator, and my Savior.  This security, this knowing, brings a joy that I cannot describe- it is a joy that is not dependent on circumstance.   When I am anchored this way, I am free to love without condition. I am free to love without fear of being hurt and rejected.  I am also free to combat our human tendency to act like I have it all figured out; like life can be organized neatly into pinterest boards and facebook posts.  It can't be. Life isn't quite so clean; it is messy.  It is full of broken people, relationships, and plans.  But it also full of unspeakable joy, wonderful friendships, and glorious blessings.


Social media has only perpetuated this problem.  Today alone I saw that my friends have made soup from scratch, knitted a newborn hat, won an award, finished building a dream house and much more.  But there is more to these stories.  There is more to what we post.  There is the finger that was burnt while making this soup, the orange juice that was spilled every where by the two year old while she sat to peacefully knit, and the years of work that went unrecognized before the award was granted.  I am guilty of this, I post pictures of my boys being best friends but omit the moments where my three year old is screaming in timeout from hitting his baby brother in the face.  These moments are important- perhaps even more so than the sweet ones.  These are the ones where your character is shown, prayers are pleaded, and lessons are learned. 


And so, lessons are being written on my soul now. Lessons of how I am loved, FIRST by Him. Lessons of vulnerability and a commitment to be authentic.  Lessons of knowing that no one has it together an the beauty in that.  We are anchored in Christ, imperfect in ourselves and this becomes beautiful when we accept, embrace and highlight where these two truths meet.  

[In the interest of remaining true to this post, I should note- I found this beautiful image of gorgeous leaves HERE. I was too busy pushing my toddler in a stroller, carrying my over-tired, crying baby, and sweating to get my camera out. The leaves where still beautiful and a good part of the walk was peaceful before chaos erupted again. :) ]