The power of an encouraging word

In May, I photographed the wedding of one of our beloved babysitters. I’m not a wedding photographer. Her faith and confidence in me was unexpected and flattering, so I responded to the invitation to be her photographer with a nervous but willing “yes”. And then, on the day of the wedding, between bridal portraits and the ceremony, my lens broke.

Standing nearby was our pastor, Mark Beeson, who just so happens to be a remarkable photographer. No really – you can take a brief glance at his Instagram and quickly see that photography is a passion and skill he has a far greater mastery of than I do. As Stockton broke the news to me (pun SO not intended) that my 24-70mm lens which I was planning to use for the ceremony was cracked and unusable after taking a tumble out of the camera bag, I felt whatever confidence I came into the day with completely drain away. The lens was a tool, certainly, but I didn’t realize how much of a crutch it was for my confidence. My plan was in the garbage. I would have to shoot an entire wedding ceremony in full sunlight with a unique aisle and seating situation, with a 50mm prime lens, and nothing else. If you don’t know what prime means, it simply means my only functioning lens did not have any zoom capabilities. It’s still a great lens, but for this wedding ceremony, I was planning on utilizing the depth that my 24-70mm zoom lens would afford me. It wasn’t a vast difference, but creatively, it would have afforded me different shots, wider angles, greater compression. The tool held my confidence and with the tool went the last shred of faith I had in my abilities.

Mark was standing with Stockton when the lens took its fateful fall, and he immediately encouraged Stockton. I imagine him gently placing a reassuring hand on Stockton’s shoulder as I’ve seen him do many times before. “It’s ok. It will be ok.” He didn’t tell him what to do when Stockton’s eyes grew wide, or offer to swoop in and fix the situation when Stockton worriedly analyzed the cracked glass. He didn’t start playing the blame game which Stockton and I each attempted to do at different points. Who left the bag unzipped to begin with? Who doesn’t check the camera bag before slinging it around carelessly? He just assured Stockton that it was all going to be alright. Then when he saw the blood rush out of my face and a panic spread over me, he encouraged me. “You didn’t need that lens anyway! You’re the greatest! You can do it!” I don’t know that I believed him. In fact, I most certainly didn’t. But you know what? His encouragement became a self-fulfilling prophecy. And you know what else? It was all good. I didn’t need that lens anyway. He was right. He emboldened me with his faith in me, and it was the vote of confidence I needed to rise to the occasion.

Several times throughout that ceremony, Mark and I zig-zagged around each other as guests watched Alli and Riley exchange their vows, each of us with cameras in hand. And every time I passed him, he shot me a thumbs up. “You’re doing great!” I can hear his words of encouragement even now, just telling you this story. “You’re doing great.”

After that wedding, I sent in my broken lens and waited for it to be repaired. A lot has changed since that day. I can’t write this without giving way to my emotions, sitting in the sorrow I feel over a good, good man going through a hard, painful time. In the last two weeks, Mark learned that he has cancer. And still, he’s encouraging people. He gave a message Saturday and Sunday that you can watch here, and instead of focusing on himself, he focused on the good work that is being done and the greatness of God. Jesus is Lord, he declared. Lord of broken things. Lord of our talents. Lord of our anxieties. Lord of our bodies. Jesus is Lord, he said, and we need not fear.

Mark encouraged me when I was full of anxiety, doubting myself and feeling unqualified. And I want to encourage Mark, as well. I think the best way we can encourage Mark is by believing that Jesus is Lord, God is good, and we should fear not. Pray for Mark. Pray for his wife, Sheila. Pray for their 3 kids and their families. Mark has been my pastor for over 20 years, and he’s been so much more than a pastor for me. He’s been a friend to my family, and as his Instagram handle states, he’s a Papa. He’s a papa to us all, but pray especially for those to whom he is an actual papa. It’s ok. It will be ok. Jesus is Lord. You’re great.

When things don’t go according to plan, you need only to trust in He who has a greater plan. Rest in that trust. Trust is a hard thing to muster up sometimes. Relinquishing control might be the hardest thing you’ll ever do. But greater is He…

1 John 4:4  (NIV)
⁴ You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

And while I’m certainly not comparing my stupid broken lens to Mark’s current battle, I’m thankful for this story because it reminds me what a genuine, kind, good man Mark is. He helps me to keep perspective, and he helps point me to Jesus. He reminds me what a gift encouragement is, and to use it liberally. I’m thankful for this memory with him and I’m thankful that I can share a common interest with such a talented, God fearing man. He helps me be better.

So anyway, I got my lens back today, and the first person that came to mind was Mark. I’ll take better care of it than I did before, but I’m thankful that every time I use it from now on I will be reminded to encourage others like Mark encourages me.