Worship holds a sacred place in my heart. It is a moment where, with my eyes closed, it is just my Savior and me wholly surrendering myself to Him and His will. It is humbling; sitting at the feet of the Father, the creator of life, boldly proclaiming my gratitude for His unfailing love.

Every Sunday, I look forward to this moment. Although my time in worship to the Lord continues throughout my week, there is something so precious about the sound of a thousand people singing simultaneously of the goodness of God. A few weeks ago, I began volunteering as a photographer at my church, Harris Creek. When I was told I would be taking pictures during worship instead of worshiping myself, a part of me was apprehensive and saddened. I started volunteering in this position because I have a gift for photography. It's a hobby and something I have yet to perfect, but I have a camera and a will to capture moments that would otherwise go unnoticed.

A few weeks back, I shot at my first Sunday. I was somewhat intimidated by the idea of taking candids in a place of worship, worried I would interrupt people's intimate moments with the Father. However, to my surprise, I went almost unnoticed. People, instead, were so focused on the act of praise that my lens didn't interfere at all.

Last night, I got to shoot at a weekly event for young adults with a time of fellowship, worship, a sermon, and a mini after-party with snow cones. Worship was so dimly lit that my camera sometimes didn't recognize people and refused to focus. Worship was passionate with hundreds of young adults are newly embarking on a life of complete independence. When I take photos during worship, I am reminded of the privilege of experiencing it from this perspective. Instead of typical worship, I capture a sea of people worshipping Jesus in unison. It is a job I didn't expect to excitedly anticipate, but it has become one of the highlights of my life.

Photography during worship feels like a glimpse into heaven. I am not "distracted" by my own time praising Jesus (I say "distracted" not in a negative way, but in emphasizing that I don't see anything going on around me on a typical Sunday), but instead capturing the beauty of a body of believers, literally falling on their knees, hands raised, hearts open actively chasing the heart of Jesus. There are no words that can encapsulate the beauty of this job, which I am starting to believe is less of a job and more of a gift, but I hope these photos can give you a glimpse into what heaven may look like when we are one day reunited with our Heavenly Father.