Stories – Word Pictures

Even though the sun was shining today it was fairly cold outside so I spent the afternoon learning how to take an image out of one picture and place it in another. It gives real meaning to the old phrase, “Not in the picture.” For fun I took a picture of my granddaughter’s favorite doll out of the toy ads in the Sunday paper, changed its size and put it in a picture with my granddaughter. They look like playmates.

While I was messing around I thought about what it means to be in a picture with someone. It does not necessarily mean you are friends. There could be many situations where just the opposite relationship would exist. However most of the time when pictured we are with friends. Pictures capture moments in time freezing them for us to enjoy later. I like to take pictures of my friends. The event is museumed in my brain and the picture acts as a key to open up memories.

Jesus loved pictures. He did not have a camera but He told lots of stories. Stories are word pictures. People would remember His stories and those stories would remind them of the lessons He taught. Most of us are visual learners. Jesus made us that way and He taught that way.

“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” Matthew 7:28-29

Written by Roger Bothwell on November 3, 2002
Spring of Life, 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453