Picture This

The phrase, “a picture is worth a thousand words” refers to the adage in multiple languages meaning that complex and sometimes multiple ideas can be conveyed by a single still image. The modern use of the phrase is generally attributed to Fred R. Barnard who used a variation in a December 8th, 1921, advertisement.

As intentioned, the majority of the photos and art on Living Stones Unearthed are organic and represent special places, events, memories, and glimpses that I feel reinforce the site. It has been my prayer that each visitor would pause and let the images speak something specific to them or beyond what can be seen at first glance. Although initial impressions are important and often times accurate, things are not always what they seem. We seek the “more” and illumination that the Creator brings through second glances and closer examination.

There isn’t a game I’ve seen that’s been closer examined than chess.

All three of my sons played chess at Monroe High School, achieving some level of success, even national ranking. This was serious stuff! The toughest part for me and the other parents was having to keep quiet through it all. My sons have moved on from chess since then and I hadn’t thought about those days in a long time, but my continuing quest to organize and declutter a couple of years ago going through a stack of papers and documents, I discovered a news clipping and photo that brought me right back to those silent evenings. It was from the Monroe Evening News and it featured our oldest son, Christian when he was 14 years old playing chess.

Holding a can of Mountain Dew, the magic potion, staring intently at the board, totally focused, he had adopted a posture I had seen him, and my other sons take so many times during matches. It struck me that so much could be going on at once in one photo. Then I looked at the bottom of the clipping, seeing a single outstretched hand and I found that this phrase came to my thoughts as though it were spoken.

I started to see parallels in the photo to my own journey of faith in Jesus. I had all the “pieces”, everything that I had been told would make me complete and happy, but I remember being neither. I practiced the poker face, not wanting to give away what I was really thinking or what I had become. God made the first move, and the next and the next and the next until it was just the two of us.

I made one move. The only one I could. The only one that made sense.

I surrendered.

“So keep coming to him who is the Living Stone —though he was rejected and discarded by men but chosen by God and is priceless in God’s sight. Come and be his “living stones” who are continually being assembled into a sanctuary for God. For now you serve as holy priests, offering up spiritual sacrifices that he readily accepts through Jesus Christ. For it says in Scripture: Look! I lay a cornerstone in Zion, a chosen and priceless stone! And whoever believes in him will certainly not be disappointed.” 1 Peter 2:4-6 TPT