PHOTO EPISTLE #13 – Surviving Hard Times

I just shot this image last year outside Capulin, New Mexico. It seems like just about every time I pass through that part of New Mexico there is a gnarly-looking storm brewing on the horizon. As I shot the photo, I began to think about having to drive though it when I was done. Immediately, I felt that peace I have felt so many times in my life, as if Jesus has put His hand on my shoulder and was saying “I’m here to help you through this.” and He does…every time! He really does!

I’ve had my share of hard times in my life, but the worst was in 1996. That was the year I lost my son Ryan to an accidental drowning. I learned so much through that trial, but it was a smack-down of biblical proportions for me and my family. I was pretty quickly brought to a “Y” in the road. Either I hate God and become His enemy or I love God and will trust Him with this! Up to this point, I was ready to give up and withdraw from my marriage, my other children, my friends, my life. I had just failed in the worst way a father, a husband and a man could possibly fail. In fact, like Job, I had some extended family and friends would treat me that way from then on. Then God sent this wonderful older brother. He knew, he knew because he too had been through his share of trials. He simply put his arm around me and told me he was sorry for what had happened. He then squared off to me and held me by my shoulders and looked straight into my eyes and with authority told me “Kevin, you can either get bitter or better from this and God is going to let you choose.”. I chose “better”, I chose to love God and trust Him! That night my son Shannon came up to me and asked “Dad, is our family ruined?”. I told him it was up to us as a family. We could all either give up and let it ruin us or we could trust God to help us through this. He did! We all miss Ryan in ways that words cannot describe, but Jesus has given us a hope and a future that includes Ryan.

After finishing the photo I packed up my gear and with God’s help drove through the storm. Psalm 91:15 “He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”

the Jesusfreak