New is always now old is always beautiful

Recently, I've been taking pictures of anything that will hold still long enough. This is a new and exciting experience that I didn't understand before. I actually used to make excuses for NOT taking pictures. Now all the reasons I used to have seem odd and ludicrous to me.

But as I started to do things for the second or third time I started to panic. I was worried that the things that become ritual for me wouldn't be worth photographing. Like if you just repeated one quote over and over and over again for the rest of your life. Like a stuck record.

I was worried that the second time I went to Scum or Vegan Dinner or something like that that I wouldn't want to take pictures of people I had already seen or places I'd already been. If I already had pictures of them once, why do it twice? What's the point?

There is good news! It doesn't work that way!!! In fact, it works kind of the opposite for a few reasons. Here's why...

First of all, the days the Lord has made are full of surprises. Everything God does is a surprise (thank you Peter Kreeft). Every time you turn around or breath in or touch something or listen closely the World will seem slightly different than it did microseconds before. You don't have to take drugs or be drunk or try and be artistic at all!!! You just have to pay attention and then every second you're alive isn't like looking at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It's like watching Michaelangelo paint it!!!

The pictures help you remember. Before I had pictures routine was just routine because I omitted the details. I went to dinner with friends. I hung out with people. Now I can tell a vivid story so that no weekly ritual is ever ritualistic. It's fantastic. I remember the food I ate. I remember trying to fix the broken stereo with Aaron. I remember talking about kids' music with Jessi. I remember defending Georgia's honor with Cole and remembering Jaci has no rival. It isn't like last week at all and won't be like next week at all either. It's fantastic!

But this is the best part. This is my favorite. Because your memories are so vivid you anticipate the newness over and over again. And not like you anticipate coffee to get rid of the headache you will have later. Like a little kid who can't wait to get cotton candy at a fair and truly savor sugar spun into string! Getting bored of taking pictures? Might as well think that every time you meet a dear friend you'd say "Oh you again? I'm so bored with you." You never say that to an old friend. You embrace them and you both speak words of love to each other. And although you might never say it out loud what you mean is "I'm glad you're alive because you enrich my very existence."

It's a beautiful thing.