Today is November 4th,
which means that tomorrow I am photographing my last wedding of this year. It's been a whirlwind of a year and I've traveled to more places than I thought I could travel to in a year, plus I'm exhausted but I'm feeling down.
There's always that uncertainty that lingers around and makes you question if next year will be just as exceptional. Will I forget how to photograph and stay confident in any and all situations? Will my couples be just as amazing?
But then I remember that every end-of-year, I have the same concerns. And every new wedding season, I pick myself up stronger and more confidently than the year before.
This past weekend,
my husband and I were in Rhode Island for my friend, Oksana's wedding. I've been to Rhode Island before and Oksana had showed me around a little on my last trip up there. The places she took me where the places I wanted to take my husband.
One of those places was Beavertail State Park. This park gets its name from the shape, which actually looks like a Beavertail. We got to the end of the trail where the Lighthouse and Museum are and realized that there is a way to get down closer to the water.
So we did. Dress, sandals and all, we made our way down there.
There was something almost frightening
about standing in such strong wind near an even stronger ocean where the waves were throwing themselves over the rocks. But I couldn't stop watching.
It was thrilling standing right beside the massive waves, getting splashed by the water and wanting more and more of it.
Then I realized that it's the perfect metaphor for my wedding seasons.
Standing beside the waves is like dealing with that uncertainty. You don't know if the next wave coming will knock you over.
If it does knock you over, you'll be a little wet, you'll be a little frazzled, but you'll still need to stand up. And this time you'll be smarter about it. You'll look over your 'steps' and what you did to end up in that situation and learn from it.
The waves are those problems we all deal with. Big or small, they'll still come. We need to be prepared and think - "Do I have all the tools to overcome this? Am I prepared? Is there something I'm not seeing?"
And you can't forget the rock you're standing on. It's sturdy. That's the shelter. And in my case, I have The Rock. The One that cares for me, upholds me, loves me, protects me and catches me when I fall.
PSALM 18:2
"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies."
