Thank You Father John

Photograph of a Stranger

Something happened to me today that I just had to share. We all suffer from a bout of self-doubt and indecisiveness at one time or another. If you know me at all, you know I have been doing a lot of that lately. I have been questioning if I am doing the right thing, and if this is where I should be right now, if going back to school was the right decision, etc.

One of the classes I am currently taking required a photograph of a total stranger as part of an assignment. I was struggling with how in the world I was going to pull that off by tomorrow afternoon’s class with all the other “stuff” I have to do. For another part of the assignment I took a few shots of my son as he complained continuously about having to “model”. When I finished, I sat at my desk frustrated as I considered where to go to find a “stranger” that wouldn’t mind me photographing them.

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My desk sits up against the front windows of my house and I happened to look up and out of the window as I often do while working. There, right in front of my house, not 150 feet away from me, is a complete stranger. He was riding his bike and apparently got a flat. There he was, on the lawn next to the fence that surrounds my front yard. I watched for a few minutes before realizing this “stranger” was just dropped right in my lap. What on earth was I waiting for? Well there was the initial concern about him being dangerous, but that only lasted a spit second.

I threw on my coat, grabbed my camera, and ran out the door to introduce myself. I quickly explained about my assignment and asked if he would mind if I took his picture. He smiled and said it would be fine. Initial introductions were exchanged and to my surprise, my stranger was the pastor for a local church not far from my home. He even worked at my current church up until the year before I moved here.

Wow… if that’s not just a lil’ bit of divine intervention, I don’t know what is. Sometimes when you ask for a sign that you’re heading in the right direction, look around you. The answer may very well be right in front of you.

Thank you Father John for your kindness and for allowing me to photograph you, my “stranger”.

By: Kelly Ann Jones