Is It Just Me?

I know better.
I know that my worth is not found in my work.
I know that my work does not define me.

That's why I was so surprised and a little bit shocked when the realization hit me.

The road to finding worth and value in work is more of a slippery slope than I had thought.

A few days ago, I was contacted by one of my brother's high school baseball teammates. I photographed every game during my brother's junior and senior years and this boy was asking for the link to all the photos.

These boys posted my photos on their Instagram. My pictures were up at their graduation parties. It feels good to know that people liked my work. I was super proud of what I had done and it was gratifying to know that other people appreciated it too. Plus, when teenage guys like something enough to publically share it, well, that is a little extra special :)

So here I am, feeling happy that this guy wants to go back to the photos from high school. Seems harmless. It wasn't until later that I started to think about what I was feeling and why.

Was I getting my feelings of worth from people's approval?
Was I putting my identity in photography and then needing praise?

It was sobering to see how close I had crept to that slippery slope. When you pour yourself into something, it's so easy to start to think that it is your identity; who you are. Moms can come to find their worth and value in their kids and who they are as a mother. Artists, musicians, athletes; they spend so much time and energy on their skills and crafts that it is all too easy to let it consume you. But what happens when that gets taken away?

What happens when you can't play sports anymore? Or your kids grow up? What happens when you hurt your hands and can no longer paint or make music? Or, for the photographer, maybe you lose your sight?

If our worth and identity is wrapped up in our work and what we are able to do, one day, we are going to be lost. Everyone is out there looking for identity. For validation and acceptance. They want to know why they're worth something.

You are made in the image of God. You are one of His image bearers. That is your identity and mine. That is where we get our worth from. When all else changes and fades away, that will never change.