My friend Deanne is in grad school for photography at SCAD (Savannah College for Art and Design). She was working on a photo assignment which required taking pictures of people in their sacred places outside of houses of worship or other religious buildings.
I started to think about what were my sacred places outside of my house of worship. The first thing that came to mind was in the delivery room where my son was born. That moment when I held him for the first time was certainly sacred. It's hard to put it into words. When he was very little I would watch those tv shows with women going into labor. I think I wanted to recreate that feeling. It's one of the most sacred moments of my life.
When I continued thinking about sacred places I also thought about the sun. Oh how I love sunshine. There is something very settling and energizing to me about the sun. Walking around outside on a bright sunny day is one of my favorite ways to ponder and think and speak to God. My friend asked if she could take my picture with the sun. So on an autumn day we went to a park by her home and took pictures of the sun on me coming through the trees. I'm glad I could help her on her assignment.
(photographer Deanne Andrus. She sent this picture to me right after the shoot so there isn't any editing on this pic.)
Now that our thoughts have turned to Christmas another sun comes to mind. The son of God, our Savior Jesus Christ. A babe laying in a manger in a stable is a sacred place to many Christians. I attended a Nativities display at an LDS church which had a room full of nativity scenes from around the world. I was overcome with a feeling of joy and humility for a child who was brought into this world in such lowly conditions but who has triumphantly overcome the world.
I hope this Christmas season to turn my thoughts to Christ and remember one of the most sacred events this world has beheld.
I totally agree about the delivery room. My friend recently invited me to the birth of her son and I was very flattered (and went to the birth) but it was also a little weird for me because I really felt like an intruder on this sacred experience. With each of my boy's births I have only wanted me and Mike in the room (besides all the hospital people that have to be there) because I really feel like that is such a precious and personal moment and I just want to share it with Mike. In fact, when Isaac was born I was not able to hold him or go to him. They left him under a lamp and he was crying and crying and no one was coming and I wanted so badly to go to him but couldn't. Instead, I sang "I am a Child of God" to him from across the room and it was such a special experience to me. If there were lots of people in the room I would not have had that personal experience with my new baby. So, long comment, but I agree.
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