A Picture Says a Thousand Words

"Dear Photograph"
CC BY-ND 2.0 DEED by vuOng.
Source: Flickr

While we’ve likely all heard (and most of us have used) the adage “a picture is worth a thousand words.” For centuries, we have acknowledged the power of imagery to communicate in ways that words simply do not: from da Vinci’s comparison of poetry to painting, Turgenev comparing a sketch and a novel, to modern interpretations as we live in a time of digital photography and phone cameras.

This week a friend and I were sharing pictures of our hairstyles from long ago. It was a giggle; we also started to comment on the makeup styles, clothing, home decorations, etc. (I will not be sharing those photos! Ha!) The photos took us on an amusing journey through history; the recent photos communicated a different story: where we are now, and how we’ve changed. Relationships have ended, we have absent friends, our present realities do not reflect the dreams that were held at the time of the photos.

We chatted about how overall, we are taking more pictures than ever, and printing fewer and fewer. We do not always connect the same importance to photos now that we did even 35 years ago. (My camera roll from this week included a price sticker for cost comparison, a screen shot from a hockey game, a parking location reminder… and many many dog photos!)

The pictures we take, share, and keep, speak of a certain time and place; and we are glad to have the old ones; for the thousands of words that they communicate to our hearts are worth it!

The challenge could come in if we were trying to use old photos to convey the thousand words of today. I have a few more wrinkles and a longer hair than in some older photos; if I wanted to present my authentic self I would want to choose a picture that showed that.

The same becomes important for our communities – our churches – when we represent ourselves. The photos of years gone by are wonderful reminders of the past; but they do not always speak to our present.

If we remember that every image we share conveys a thousand words, it is helpful for us to consider what the current message is that we are aiming to communicate; and the implications of that message.
Imagery that lacks authenticity (like an older photo of a massive Sunday School in a parish that presently does not offer children’s ministry) will reflect poorly on that church; and will lead to guests wondering if there are other areas of duplicity or inaccuracy.
Likewise, when a church refraining from photos of children on social media, it may be communicating care for the vulnerable in their care; and folks can extrapolate a community that extends concern for all who engage.

A thousand words is a lot; there is a lot of information in our photos. We are fortunate to be able to demonstrate an authentic and genuine care in how we communicate ourselves, our lives, our faith, to the world.