A couple of weekends ago I tried something I've never really done before. I was a photographer. Now I've casually used the camera on my phone to capture random things but I've never had the role and responsibility of being an actual photographer on my shoulders and I absolutely loved it.

For so much of my life, I wouldn't totally consider myself a "creative" person it usually made the list but it was pretty low down. Things like "Athlete" and "Scholar" always defined me. Lately, though, the Lord has been taking me on a process of creating and it's been the absolute sweetest journey.

This process has always been inside of me, from a very young age I enjoyed art and beauty immensely. I found a deep enjoyment in creating things. But in the hustle and bustle of life creating took a back seat. It was an occasional hobby that revolved around more important and "worthwhile" tasks.

I've been really pursuing my creativity lately and it's been giving me life.

Photography is so cool. It requires so much presence. Sitting and waiting while constantly scanning knowing that something will be revealed. I didn't realize how present taking pictures can be. You have to be so tuned in and watchful of moments. It's incredibly special. I never imagined getting so much out of simply having a camera in my hands at a retreat.

I realized that I rush around in life and can miss out on moments as they are morphed into familiar crescendos and paces of life. There tends to be routine and a sense of knowing behind my days.

Sometimes I feel like I'm on a conveyor belt going from one place to the next with no room for seeing the beauty in the familiar routine. Occasionally I find myself very checked out with no engagement to the present moment but living in a place of "I've walked this road x number of times so I know what will happen next."

I love moments that draw me away from that sense of being checked out and bring me to a place of appreciation. There is so much to appreciate in moments. Seeing a bunch of strangers moments through the lens of a camera this weekend was so incredibly sweet. And opened my eyes in massive ways to the little moments we can miss so easily.

I'm typically pretty open to trying new things even if they don't end up super well every time. With photography though it ended with me having a new passion that I can't wait to learn more about!