Smartphones and sparrows

I’m a serious amateur photographer. Last month I took senior portraits for two high school students who will graduate in 2027. In both photo shoots, the girls were excited about their portraits and eager to participate fully in the experience.

One senior asked for a particular pose that required me to lie on my stomach and shoot through tall grass for a unique angle. The photograph worked well, and she and I were pleased with the results. I took these pictures during the final hour before dusk, often called the “golden hour,” because the soft light makes photos look better. After the requested pose, we moved to another spot in the park as darkness approached.

When I got in my car to go home, I realized I didn’t have my phone. By then, it was almost dark, and the park closed at dusk. I grabbed my flashlight and searched desperately, but without success. Concerned I might get locked in, I went home determined to resume my search when the park opened the next morning.

My wife knows I’m sometimes scatterbrained, and I dreaded telling her I had lost my phone, but of course I did. She suggested I close my eyes and visualize each moment of the photoshoot, hoping I might remember something helpful. Only then did I realize I’d most likely lost my phone when I laid down in the grass to get the unique portrait the senior wanted.

The next morning, on my way to the park, I prayed for God’s help finding the phone. Though God has much bigger things to deal with than helping me find it, I still asked for his help. I’m delighted to report that the phone was exactly where I feel God led me.

We can bring our little concerns to God because he cares about us. Jesus once said, “What is the price of two sparrows – one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.” (Matthew 10:29, NLT) That’s pretty remarkable since the British Broadcasting Corporation once reported that there are 1.6 billion house sparrows in the world.

If God cares when one sparrow dies, he also cares about our little concerns. I don’t know what may be worrying you now, but I know that no matter the size, you can bring your concerns to him because he cares about all things, both large and small.