I just ran into something amazing today. A famous photographer who decided he did not want his son and the world to remember him for all the movie stars and athletes in his photography portfolio. Jeremy Cowart does not want to get to the end of his life and say
“Man, I toured with Britney Spears.” In his own words ‘How can I use my gift to make a difference in the live of others, if people are gonna watch me then I don’t want to absorb that light, I want to hold up a board, I want to say thank you for listening but look at what’s gonna on over here.”
Jeremy wants his son to brag about him not for who he knows but what he has done with the platform he was given.
Small Dreams are Safe
Dreaming small means being safe. If the dream fails you can excuse yourself and walk back into the numbing distractions of everyday life. Dreaming big means risk. Risk of failure, financial loss, credibility, and exposure for your true passions in life. Dreaming big means exposure of our true selves– desires that may or may not resonate with those in your most intimate circles. As you dream big you are no longer the cog in the wheel, you become the wheel. The forward motion that causes other people to pivot and focus on you.
Are Your Dreaming Big Enough to Be Seen?
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 34.4 God knows the desires he placed 
in your life. He gave you those desires to dream and be seen for your special purpose in this life. Jeremy Cowart in his first project Help Portrait, he photographed what he terms “the forgotten people” (homeless, orphaned, outcast) and was amazed by their since of wonder at see
ing their own photograph. In a society of over sharing on social media for the affluent main stream, the simple act of taking a photo enriched the lives of each forgotten person so immeasurably it dramatically affected the professional photographers and helpers. The next year the professional photographers called Jeremy to ASK if they could participate again.
God Who Sees You
Hagar, the slave given to Abraham in the Old Testament, bares a son for Sarah (Abraham’s wife) who could not conceive. Sarah then becomes jealous of Hagar and starts treating her badly. Hagar runs out into the desert. Hagar, the slave, is now without home or place in the world. She waits to die. God comes to her and she is amazed that the God of Abraham actually “sees her”. She gives Him the name El Roi.
Hagar is seen by God!
She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seenc the One who sees me.” Gensis 16:13.
Hagar realizes that she is not alone. God sees her. She is able to cast aside her hopelessness with the new vision God gave her through this encounter–through that one encounter with the God who sees.
Dreaming Bigger than Herself Became a Reality
Hagar got the bigger picture for her life. God made a huge promise! A mother of a son and descendants too numerous to count. Unseen, disrespected and fleeing a harsh master, Hagar chooses to see the dream God has for her and returns. For the rest of Hagar’s story see Genesis 21:8-21.
Through Help Portrait, Jeremy Cowart is showing the unseen that they are valuable. That their lives matter. A simple act of creating a picture changes lives of many who felt unworthy. His story is picture worthy!
More on
Hagar the Unlikely Hero
Help Portrait In Your City- Dec 3,2016
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