JH Portrait Art and Photography

I had a dream during a very interesting time this past year. Most would call this time a "time of trouble". First, it would be nice to have some mood music...

So if you're playing that and reading this, then perhaps you'll get a glimpse into this wonderful dream..

It was one of those dreams that takes all night. It was about various different things, but the part I remember the most was when I was walking (or riding in a car) down the street. The street was lined with houses and trees on both sides. As I floated down, I heard singing. I thought it could be some of the people that were in the houses. I looked into each of them and for some reason, the women I was asking could hear me from their second story windows. As I passed each house, I would ask them, "Are you the one singing?" Each of them would say "No, I'm not. That's not me," and smile kindly. Soon, I realized the left side of the street had changed. It was no longer houses and trees but a long beach. I wondered briefly where the trees went.

I waded out into the water and found so much joy in it. I began to kick it, play with it; it was more refreshing than water ever seemed. I soon found a jar come my way; it seemed to appear out of nowhere as I played. It was a purple jar and it seemed to be hard plastic (you never can tell in dreams for sure). It was round, empty, and could float on the water. I picked it up and began to enjoy filling it up with the water, then pouring it out. I was actually enjoying playing with this jar-much like a child. Somehow, I didn't feel foolish-I felt happy. It didn't take long, but once I realized how happy this jar made me, I began to covet the jar. The thought entered my mind, "I better hang on to this jar, I hope I don't lose it." I looked around to see if there was any kind of danger...any kind of threat to my jar. As I looked around, I saw another jar exactly like it floating nearby. Now I had two. This made me very happy. While I got used to the fact that I now had two jars, I thought, "Well, now I can let the first jar go and I can still have this other jar." When I let go of the first jar to play with the second, the feeling was profoundly liberating. It made me happy to know I didn't have to hang on. All the while, this song, "He is Lord", was being sung in the background. I never found out who was singing it. It must have been angels. The entire dream was filled with music about God.

Directly after having my liberating feeling, I looked up across the water toward the horizon. The music and singing continued. I saw an amazing sight! There were purple jars floating in the water-with beautiful symmetry and perfection. Floating straight up, in rows, perfectly placed in a line, and the waves were all parallel with the horizon. Each wave came with the same speed, each was perfectly spaced. The jars never moved from their line, they were placed with perfection on each third wave. They came empty, and I could let go of any which one. I never had to hang on to any one of the jars. The line of jars didn't have an end, and as my eyes stretched to see the last ones, my eye found the vast horizon. Immediately the thought entered my mind, "These are coming from God...and they will just keep coming." What an amazing realization! What an incredible feeling! The angels were singing "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord!"

You see, in my time of trouble, my position as a curriculum coach at my school district had not been renewed. I had faith that God would take care of our every need and that everything would be fine. Many would look at my situation and feel sorry for me in some way or the unknown would make them feel uncomfortable. What I have found through my faith is that God truly will take care of me...and I don't need to know what His plan is all the time. I didn't want to waste time worrying, and I didn't. I was praying that He would use me however He wanted to in this next phase of life. I became excited that His plan was working-I knew it was His since I never even had a choice! I knew photography had been pulling me and many had suggested it to be my next full-time job. I erroneously believed that there was a right and wrong road--either teach or do photography--one was right and the other was wrong (error!). With this dream, God was saying, "You don't need to worry if the blessings will come...they will always come." I felt so much faith! I found that they were purple because they were regal...from the King Himself. I even realized that the jars were empty...the water was what I was filling them up with...but the water could represent anything that makes me happy-good finances, good health, good relationships, good opportunity to work for Jesus. I was excited. A dream like this cannot be made my man--its perfection, imagery, lessons, and sincerity is only a testament to infinite wisdom (Amen!).

That same day, I had turned down a job offer to teach once again full-time. Through a friend, and in another whisper, God released me from the burden of "right" and "wrong" and told me that I was free to make a choice that would make me most happy. We both know that whichever way I go, He would be glorified. So then, my decision was blessed! I would be a full-time photographer as long as I want to be! Purple jars will keep coming my way! I've adopted each blessing with a new terminology, "a purple jar".

Thanks for sticking with me this far--you are a blessing to me. I hope that what I do and write will inspire you to find your faith and see His beauty through all things and in all things. My pictures are just images of his creations--He has created a real being. Although my task to show His glory is utterly impossible, I still want to try. If you're wondering why I don't have a picture of a purple jar, it's because I don't want to ruin the perfection He showed to me in my dream...my jar will not have a splendor like His.

P.S. I listen to Hillsong A LOT. I highly recommend buying everything they have... ;)