I should just ask.
I love discovering people’s unique contributions to the world and then celebrating them by receiving their offerings with open arms. But when I have a specific need to fill, I often look around aimlessly – wondering who will help me. I don’t ask others for help because I’m afraid I might not get a response.
Being ignored feels worse than being invisible. Asking is risky.
Recently, I have been feeling the “need” for photos to use here on the blog. Images stick with me in ways words do not. That may sound crazy from someone who writes quite a bit. But it’s true. I’m the gal who prefers the movie over the book – most likely because I never read the book in the first place! (Can I say that?!) My brain imagines everything in diagram, so reading descriptions isn’t nearly as interesting to me as seeing the scene at the theater.
In fact, I remember my own blog post by the picture that accompanies it before I remember the title I gave it! So, finding an image to convey the message that flows out in each blog post is a big deal to me. I get lucky every once in a while with my own camera but I don’t really know what I’m doing. I toyed with the idea of learning more about photography, but I have SO many other things I want to do first.
So, week by week I look in the Creative Commons archives for images that speak what I am trying to say. And week after week I find ZERO joy in posting them.
Because I don’t know the photographer.
I tend to believe in finding jobs for the right people instead of finding the right person for a job. It is an important value I hold. I often make choices based on people I want to connect with rather than qualities I want in an institution or activity. It’s not that qualities don’t matter, it’s that the relationship oftentimes means more.
Empowered by this relational focus one night, I finally said to myself….
I should just ask.
And I did. You passed the word around and three very talented “amateur” photographers blew me away with their response. I couldn’t wait to share them with you!
Linda Liljehorn
Laura Bernero www.laurabernero@wordpress.com
Jennifer Brungardt
I am so grateful to them for opening up their archives to Live & Love Deeply. You will see more of them in the future.
Thanks as well to Christina Klausen Photography for her water image used for the title of this blog and this beautiful image of our daughter, used on my first breakout post about how Frozen changed my life:
www.christinaklausenphotography.com
I feel a deep connection with others when their art and my art dance. Maybe you’ll feel it too.
And maybe next time I’ll remember that people don’t know I need help until I ask. It’s worth the risk.
If you are interested in contributing a photograph or a few to the message of Live & Love Deeply, please email me for more information. Thank you!
awenburg@gmail.com
If you would like more thoughts on living and loving deeply, sign up for email notification of new posts on the right side or bottom of your screen. And as always, you are welcome to share with your friends!
Thank you, Friend!
It is wonderful how personal connection to a project (or in this case, images) can make it all mean so much more. Well said!
It is wonderful how personal connection to a project (or in this case, images) can make it all mean so much more. Well said!
i totally get it! I always use my own photos from my days with my kids and so the picture completely prompts my post. But I am always in love with other people’s beautiful, professional looking photos.
i totally get it! I always use my own photos from my days with my kids and so the picture completely prompts my post. But I am always in love with other people’s beautiful, professional looking photos.
This post was a complete confirmation of something God has just spoken to me the day before!! I was reading the Beginner’s Bible to my 4 year old son and he picked the story from 2 Kings 4 about The Widow’s Oil. The story was so simply stated but what jumped off the page at me was that Elisha told the widow she needed to ASK her friends for their empty jars. God’s provision was waiting for her but it first required her to take action and ASK. If she had not asked her friends for their empty jars she never would have experienced the miracle of God multiplying her little oil to be enough to fill every additional jar she acquired by asking her friends/neighbors. She then sold the jars of oil and was able to pay her debts and support her family.
What miracles are waiting just around the corner for us, contingent upon us being willing to simply step out and ASK?
I know I currently have specific needs I need others to help me with. After hearing the message through the Bible story, the next day I opened your post to see it titled “Just Ask” – POWERFUL! I stepped out and started asking others where I needed to. And to my delight, I’ve gotten several “yes” responses, filled with provision where I need it most! Thank you God!
This post was a complete confirmation of something God has just spoken to me the day before!! I was reading the Beginner’s Bible to my 4 year old son and he picked the story from 2 Kings 4 about The Widow’s Oil. The story was so simply stated but what jumped off the page at me was that Elisha told the widow she needed to ASK her friends for their empty jars. God’s provision was waiting for her but it first required her to take action and ASK. If she had not asked her friends for their empty jars she never would have experienced the miracle of God multiplying her little oil to be enough to fill every additional jar she acquired by asking her friends/neighbors. She then sold the jars of oil and was able to pay her debts and support her family.
What miracles are waiting just around the corner for us, contingent upon us being willing to simply step out and ASK?
I know I currently have specific needs I need others to help me with. After hearing the message through the Bible story, the next day I opened your post to see it titled “Just Ask” – POWERFUL! I stepped out and started asking others where I needed to. And to my delight, I’ve gotten several “yes” responses, filled with provision where I need it most! Thank you God!