When I returned home last night, I also took time to read and re-read emails that have been sent to me from all over the country and the world. I am still at 2500 left to go right now but the reason is because I try to answer all of my non-business emails personally. The emails I read contained stories of love and pain, dreams and regrets, hope and despair, encouragement and disdain. I've even gotten some emails in foreign languages that have taken me hours to translate but I am lucky to have friends that help me.
Why am I telling you all of this?
After praying about what to write this evening an image that I took last week came to mind. During the workshop on Friday I had my students participate in what I call The Quick Fire Challenge (think Top Chef reality show) in a manual elevator shaft. The entire time of watching my students shoot I realized that I personally took only one single image. A shot of the Glass Ceiling of the elevator. Now I know why. Here it is:
Its the 4th quarter and there are 23 days left in 2008. You have been praying and thinking about your next step the entire year. Don't let this time pass without Breaking Through your Glass Ceiling. I've spent the better part of this year posting more to my "thoughts" category than any other. Most of those posts had to do with unlocking your gift, seeing the vision for your life clearly, and releasing your anchor of dead weight (negativity in your life). We all have a purpose to our lives. You may be keeping someone from their breakthrough by waiting to realize your own. When you take a step of faith it can create a domino effect around you. Barriers to your success and to others' success begin to fall. Your act of confidence to achieve your dream can become contagious and catch fire to the people you are closest to. How do I know this? Because it happened to me! I hope that all of you continue to push harder and harder to make your life more meaningful. I pray that you have the strength and courage to take steps of faith toward your calling. I pray that you not only write your vision and make it plain, I want you to implement that vision in your daily life. I pray that your support sytem
continues to grow and becomes stronger. Most of all I pray that your example of obedience to embracing your gifts inspire others to follow. Put on the whole armour so that after you shatter that ceiling the sharp glass (cynical words from others) won't cut you, it will fall by your side and you will look back at it as a testament to your new found glory.
- KNIGHT
25 comments:
Amen! Thnks for those encouraging words!
Thanks for the encouragement Ross! As usual, you do not disappoint when I need a boost. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, funny stories, revelations, and wisdom with the world. You are truly a blessed man to have realized and acted on your gift. I pray that both you and Brandi continue to live life to the full! Peace! KG
Ross, thank you so much for those words. I know that message was sent through you. I have spent this year trying to find some clarity. I learned how to say NO and pull away from a lot of negativity. I also learned that the negativity can blow out the light inside of you, which, for me is the connection to my creativity. I took time to relight my fire, I didn't pursue the weddings, parties, etc., and I shot the things that meant something to me, that made me feel good inside once I was done. As this year is ending, I have been praying about the upcoming year and the road I should take, your message has been reassurance for me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. In the upcoming year I will continue to pray for strength and courage to walk in faith, and I will push even harder to make my life more meaningful. I will also continue to read your blogs!
May God continue to bless you!
Dawn
Right on time as alway Ross! God Bless and safe travels!
Amen! Well said, and well received. I'm seeing myself grow as a photographer and there is some fear about doing it full time but it is my heart's desire to do so. Your words today have given me that much more courage to see myself doing what I love and prospering in it in every way! Thanks Ross, you are truly a vessel used by God!
Preach, brother, preach!! Randy said it...your words as if directed by the Master always reach us at just the right time...!
Thank you for your time, your unselfishness and your fellowship!
Thanks for the encouragement!!!!
God ALWAYS works through you. Over the past few months we have shared many things and God knows He can always get my attention through your words, love and support. Thank you for ALL the "thoughts" this year. They have guided and directed me just as you have stated in your message. We are all blessed and God sends us fruit from different places and different seasons. I along with many others am glad he sent me you!!!!
Ross,
I love the elevator photo that you shot! God has truly blessed you with an amazing eye to capture an image and draw the person into the picture as if they themselves were standing there when the picture was taken.
Lately I have been thinking that I made a big mistake launching my Photography website. You see I was leading a pretty normal “happy” life when an illness struck in Feb of 07. I was blessed to be referred to one of the top Neurologist in the country. After many, many, test, MRI’s, 2 spinal taps my doctor told me on three separate visits that “I don’t believe that you have MS”. At my last visit in April of this year, I was told that there is no more testing to be done and at this time the diagnosis is a vascular/brain disease. We will want to do another MRI (#13)of your brain in 09. Right now they are treating the symptoms of the disease.
Thank you for writing breaking through your glass ceiling your words have been an inspiration to me…
May the Lord continually bless you and keep you,
Trish
Ross,
I love the elevator photo that you shot! God has truly blessed you with an amazing eye to capture an image and draw the person into the picture as if they themselves were standing there when the picture was taken.
Lately I have been thinking that I made a big mistake launching my Photography website. You see I was leading a pretty normal “happy” life when an illness struck in Feb of 07. I was blessed to be referred to one of the top Neurologist in the country. After many, many, test, MRI’s, 2 spinal taps my doctor told me on three separate visits that “I don’t believe that you have MS”. At my last visit in April of this year, I was told that there is no more testing to be done and at this time the diagnosis is a vascular/brain disease. We will want to do another MRI (#13)of your brain in 09. Right now they are treating the symptoms of the disease.
Thank you for writing breaking through your glass ceiling your words have been an inspiration to me…
May the Lord continually bless you and keep you,
Trish
Ross another timely encouragement. It has been a huge blessing meeting up with you! This post is actually a confirmation that I need to take my time off to think through my plans and start going gangbusters ... appreciate it!
Wonderful! Ross, I too am so blessed to have you in my life... as a mentor who is so willing to share his knowledge and gifts. God bless you!
I've been trying to figure out how I was gonna go about getting back into photography, and these words have helped speed the process up a little. I'll be carrying my digital camera around with me everywhere I go, and I'll see what I come up with.
Thanks for the encouraging words, man!
Ross,
Thank you so much for the encouragement. I have been following your blog for a while and never left a comment, but I could not just read this entry and not say anything. Again, Thank you!!! You have truly been a blessing to me. This year, I stepped out on faith and start my own event planning business. I decided to no longer allow fear to keep me from living the life that God has for me to live. I pray that God continues to bless you and keep up the good work!
Tracy
Amen!
Thanks for the words for 2009!
Michele
This post has come at a perfect time in my life.
After being layed off last week it brings me hope that things will turn around for me. I thank you for all the encouraging words throughout the year!! Blessings!
Wow, you-are-definitely praying. Amen. You have brought me to watery eyes (I’m at work).
“You may be keeping someone from their breakthrough by waiting to realize your own.” Whoa now, this is true in the same way a child looks to its parents. For me this is true because unless I’m doing I cannot tell anyone else why it’s so important to move.
When I first read the prayer I had to stop and copy it to a word document so I could break it down and digest it in parts. I immediately began to write it down, and while writing I got stuck on the word discipline. So I wrote it under your prayer and was interrupted and when I returned, I looked at the prayer and discipline sat there as if it had written this to me. I’ll take that as God telling me, that everything I need is there I just have to reach out and receive it. Thank you for sharing this prayer. God bless you
p.s. I’m off to read proverbs 8 &9
Thank you for your words of encouragement. May God continue to bless you!
Thank you Ross, very inspiring, OK I'm heading up to my studio to paint!
Stacey Brown
My goodness this message came right on time. I've been praying and meditating on what my next step should be and God has definitely revealed and confirmed a lot of things for me. It's just up to ME to do it. Thanks so much for being obedient to what the Lord put on your heart because it definitely encouraged me and encouraged me even more to step out and do what I'm supposed to do. I have no reason to NOT do what I was made to do.
Relying on Him,
Audrey
I looked at the elevator shot on the web and almost fell over when I realized that I was beneath that shot for at least 3 minutes during the rapid fire challenge. The thing that I have been grappling with for almost 2 weeks is why didn’t I “just look up”. I surely was aware that the light source came from above, but never looked up. After a bit of soul searching, I think this is extremely metaphoric for how I live. Most times, the answers have been close, and I never realized that I needed to just look up -- looking up gives you a new perspective. And more importantly, the inspiration/guidance from God comes from above – the light source. What I know for sure is why I didn’t and haven’t been getting where I really need to be is because most times, I hadn’t just simply looked up. I live with no regrets, so I think the lesson of “looking up” came just when it was suppose to come! In walking forward, sometimes you really have to look up and walk on faith which will come in the form of a strong discerning guiding light (and looking up may even lend to a fabulous shot ;).
Thank you, Ross! Attending your workshop was one of my top 3 goals for 2008 and I made it happen. Thank you for your craft, your wisdom, your friendship, your guidance, and your unrelenting drive for excellence of self and photography. Many years divide us in age but I know when I am presented with a Master who guides me to my best and highest good -- in life and in photography. Blessings!
Hi Ross,
I'm a Fan of your work, and a regular follower of your blog. I never really leave a comment though. But today, when i read this entry, I felt it would be a shame if I didn't let you know,(but I'm sure you do) that you are a great inspiration to a lot of people out there. Including me and you should keep doing what you do, because you are reaching lives with your gift and words. Shame I'm not in the states, i would have attended one of your workshops. But if your ever venture down to the UK with your work. I will most definately attend.
Stay Blessed.
Hi Ross,
Once again you have touched me beyond what words can explain. You have such an amazing gift and i thank God for you. I recently lost my mum and it has been a very difficult time for me, finding my way back to God and simply trusting Him one day at a time.
You always inspire and challenge me. God continue to bless you and increase your territory in Jesus name. Happy Holidays and see you when you do get to Nigeria next year.
Godbless.
i have been reading your blogs since the proposal and i love your insight, i know it's from God. I know you're praying fervently, please add me to your list, im discouraged, lost the will to pray, and still cant seem to unlock the gift, a gift, any gift. i would love to take steps to my calling just dont know what it is.. God has been silent or I haven't been hearing clearly..anyway be blessed, congratulationns on 2008. 2009 has def. got to be better
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