Religion.
Most of us are raised to believe in a higher being, be it God, Jesus
Christ, The Buddha and so on… I was raised Jewish, went to Hebrew School and
Temple and had a Bat Mitzvah. However
after (and maybe even before) my dad passed away I didn’t have much belief in
God but I had faith. I know how that
sounds. At thirty-two I still celebrate holidays but more for the tradition of
it, and just being around my family.
What does all this have to do with photography?
Patience, I am getting there. :)
When one of my best friends was married in 2008 she asked that I come to Church with her on Sunday as she was Catholic and wanted me to experience a Mass before the wedding so I would have an idea of what would happen. So I went and I listened to the priest and I got all emotional. What I realized (for me) is you don’t have to religion to believe in something. You don’t have to have religion to have faith. Whatever religion it is that you practice they are all the same at their core. Be a good person, treat people with the respect as you yourself would want to be treated, love your family and friends. There are a lot of people who take comfort in believing in a higher being and I understand and respect that. But it isn’t for everyone. It isn’t for me.
When one of my best friends was married in 2008 she asked that I come to Church with her on Sunday as she was Catholic and wanted me to experience a Mass before the wedding so I would have an idea of what would happen. So I went and I listened to the priest and I got all emotional. What I realized (for me) is you don’t have to religion to believe in something. You don’t have to have religion to have faith. Whatever religion it is that you practice they are all the same at their core. Be a good person, treat people with the respect as you yourself would want to be treated, love your family and friends. There are a lot of people who take comfort in believing in a higher being and I understand and respect that. But it isn’t for everyone. It isn’t for me.
What I do love about religion are the Temples
and Churches where people congregate.
These beautifully designed spaces filled with faith and traditions that
are thousands of years old that will outlive us all. At every angle there is something different
to see and to appreciate. We all see
just a little differently. There are
columns and crosses, stained glass feeling that you are surrounded by something
greater. As for capturing it all in a photo? There is something special in
that.
All you have to do is have a little faith.
