Portrait of the Soul

If there were anyone ever living that I could have a picture of, it would be Jesus. Not so I could make a golden calf of it, though the probably blasphemous—please forgive me, Lord—mental image of a calf statue with Jesus’ face tied to its face is slightly humorous. And not just any picture, since this is wishes, a portrait. Whether black and white or color, I have not yet decided, probably the former. But, as one wiser than I has said, “If wishes were horses, we’d all be eating steak.”

Why would I want a portrait of Jesus? Not to put Him in the church directory (what a coup that would be!). I would want to study it, His face that is. Would it be as I imagine…His skin weathered from years outdoors, His eyes full of love and sorrow, His shoulders stout as a Man who is confident in Who He is? Would He have the beginnings of crow’s feet from laughter?

I have a theory that the soul of a person can be seen in their face. And a corollary to my little pet theory (of which this is only one) that the soul is most often and best seen in portraits. We are constantly on the move…hither, thither and yon. But a portrait stops us for that moment in time and, if the person is honest with the camera, we catch a glimpse of their soul. Don’t believe me? Go look at Steve McCurry’s “Afghan Girl.”

Faces tell us something about a person…what is in their eyes, how they hold their head, the lines in their face. A portrait captures that in a way other medias cannot. Granted, my theory may be influenced by the fact that we are an imaged based culture. But images have long been important in cultures across the globe and through the centuries. They made their appearance in different ways then they do today. For example, we pin up posters of our favorite actors instead of carving them out of marble. My point, however, is that the image is not something unique to American culture. How it is interpreted, perhaps, but the value of a picture to capture what is there before us is universal.

Since I cannot get a picture of Jesus, my next wish would be to have a picture of everyone He has changed. Christ living in us makes a mark on our soul, and if my soul can be seen in a portrait, it stands to reason the perhaps we may glimpse God in the faces of our fellow believers. Now stop right there. I am in no way leaning toward the belief that all of us are God or any other such nonsense. I am more speaking toward how God works in our lives. It is His love that I see shining out of the eyes of His disciples, His joy on their lips.

In January, I have a chance to try my theory out. I am going to join a research team in India as they glean the testimonies of women believers. My role will be that of the photographer. To which the answer to the next question of “Am I a professional photographer?” is no. But I love to take pictures. Why? See above discussion.

Why am I going on this team? First, I firmly believe that every believer has a story to tell about how God has worked in their life. Where God is, there is always a lesson to learn, both about Who He is and how we are live according to that truth. Testimonies open the door to those lessons, and pictures open that door even further. Second, at my church, we recently finished studying through the book of Acts. One reflection many of the congregation have observed is the significance Luke places on the unity of the church, especially demonstrated through loving care for fellow believers. I believe one way of living the love Luke was writing about is found in listening to and learning from the stories of God’s people. I want to love God better and love His people better, and this is a way He has given me to do so.

Please pray for me as I prepare to go.