You seduced me, Lord, and I let myself be seduced...
...You were too strong for me, and you prevailed (Jeremiah 20:7).
I discovered during my latest creative pause that I had to return to my youth and explain my infatuation with God in prayer. As a consequence, this post is out of sequence. For this post alone I'm returning to 1981...
Once I discovered the pleasure received in prayer, I started my lifelong quest to see God's face. I started to steal away moments to pray alone before the Blessed Sacrament. I would sneak into my parish church's main altar, sit before the Tabernacle, and engage Him in prayer. This was sort of irregular, so I always checked if there was anyone around to see me do this. I felt pretty safe all the time.
One day someone observed me. As I finished my prayer a man approached me. He identified himself as a professional photographer. The pictures displayed in the Puerto Rico edition of Biblia Latinoamérica were part of his work. I was very familiar with the pictures because this Bible was my first study Bible. I read it every day.
The man told me he had seen me praying and wanted to photograph me praying in exactly that posture. The situation impressed me, since I'd asked God for a little sign that He was listening to my prayer. I took this random encounter as His answer. I acquiesced. He took several pictures in which I wore my school uniform. The one below is one of them.
I have lost some innocence since then, but I still sneak into my parish church's altar to pray. Nowadays I spend the time looking at Him, and He at me. I tell everything. My thoughts often flitter in every direction but I even raise all the noise to Him. He smiles at me, I feel it, and He delights in having creating me. Sometimes He shares His delight with me. And I too am delighted.
As for my photographer friend, I’ve forgotten his name. My Bible doesn’t credit his pictures. Wherever you are, thank you. I pray the Lord has blessed you richly during all these years.