Merry Christmas
I am a Christian and I make no bones about it. I love Jesus! That makes this a very special season for me. I have recently been contemplating the concept of worship and I want to tell you something that I have discovered and it actually does relate to photojournalism. Maybe you remember the three magi who came to visit Jesus either at his birth or within a couple of years of his birth. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. I am sure there is some great theological reason why they did this but they brought them to this little baby who the Bible says was born king. He surely didn’t look much like a king being born in a manger and, at best, living in a normal little house in Bethlehem when these magi arrived. Yet they found the baby and gave him extravagant gifts and bowed in worship to him.
My problem was I couldn’t figure out what I should give to Jesus in worship. It is pretty popular to think of singing as worship but I can’t seem to carry a tune in the proverbial bucket. Not very promising. Then I heard a story about the composer Joseph Hyden. He had a tough youth. Eventually he pioneered a new style of music he called a symphony. When he felt death about to grip him, Hyden sat down at his piano and played his composition, The Creation, then said something to the effect that he had been of use to his generation. May other be useful to theirs. Then he died.
Somehow, the Lord spoke to me through this story and I realized that what Joseph Hyden had done was worship God in his music. That reminded me of the Little Drummer Boy. The little drummer boy is poor and doesn’t really have anything but he decides to give the Baby Jesus what he does have. He plays his drum for Him. Now I don’t have any gifts worthy of a king, much less The King of Kings. What I do have is the gift he has given me. With my camera and the talent He has given me, I’ll worship him. The book of Colossians says that whatever I do to do with all my might, not unto men but unto God. I’ll play my drum for him too, it’ll just be with a camera.
Be blessed in this special time of the year and if you don’t know this one who was born King drop me a line and I will be happy to introduce you to him.
Merry Christmas to all and may you be exceedingly blessed. Gary Cosby Jr.
LOVE that photo and the thoughts that you shared today.
Merry Christmas to you!
yeah. totally agree with everything you said. have a blessed and brilliantly true christmas. it’s great when you find people who’s work you really admire have the same faith. i’m expecting there to be some very cool photographers in heaven !