Between the Photos

Last summer, photos from our extended family camp out sent two of my friends into temporary, minor depression.  Both friends remarked on how wonderful our family was and how much we seemed to enjoy each other's company.  I responded to both friends with a slightly sarcastic snort.  Now don't get me wrong--my family is truly wonderful, and we genuinely enjoy each other's company, but this particular camp out was not one of our best.  Five family members were missing, one was on crutches, and one needed a serious attitude adjustment!

It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but life between the pictures may be worth even more.  Several months ago, I was in a funk, and I was wishing that my life looked more like the pictures--our pictures!  Then I realized that for every picture that makes it to Facebook or this blog, there are five or more that don't, and that that's where life, real life happens.  Real life is the over-exposed photos, the blurry  photos, the lopsided grins, the awkward food-in-your-mouth smiles, the ill-timed blinks, and the snapping-and-pointing-at-your-kids-when-you-should-be-smiling-at-the-camera moments.  

And what about those photos that just don't make the cut--the ones that have no future as a profile picture or blog feature?  Do we delete them?  Do we throw them away?  Typically, no.  But why?  Because life, just like those photos, is imperfect, but in spite of the imperfections, there is still beauty, wonder...value.  Life is not lived from perfect snapshot to perfect snapshot.  The tapestries of our lives are woven in part from the imperfect moments that we don't dare cast off, for without them, our stories are incomplete.  

So here's to all the imperfect snapshot and everyday moments that make us laugh and make us cry--the moments and snapshots we cherish, because they are worth far more than a thousand words! (And don't let the pictures fool ya--we're pretty much like everyone else!)