One of the ways we can get into a photographic rut is always to take photos from the same perspective, usually from standing height, looking straight ahead at the image. Mixing that up by placing the camera on the ground, or by pointing the camera up or down, can produce fresh and new looking images and give us a new appreciation of what’s in front of us.
Emphasizing diagonal dimensions, rather than the usual horizontal or vertical perspective, can give energy and movement to our images.
In our spiritual and daily life we can often be reenergized by changing our perspective on people, events, or even God. One way to do this in prayer is to imagine ourselves as one of the people in a biblical parable. Instead of being the passive recipients of a lesson, we take part in the action. For example, when Jesus asks Peter, “Who do you say I am?”, we could imagine ourselves in Peter’s place, answering that question personally. Or I could imagine myself in the boat on a storm-tossed sea, pleading with Jesus to calm the storm.
Perhaps there are difficult people in my life whom I pigeonholed a long time ago. Is it time to look at my judgments and accept the fact that people can change over time? If I look at individuals with a more generous and understanding glance, does my judgment of them change? Sometimes a change of perspective makes all the difference.
“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, ‘The Messiah of God.'” (Luke 9:20)
