Pictures Teach It’s Not About Us

The old saying goes, “A picture’s worth a thousand words.” In today’s world, that translates into more words than I can count. With social media outlets like Instagram and Snapchat, we could probably write millions of novels per day with the number of pictures we take.

We love taking pictures. But more than taking them, we love looking at them. And more than looking at them, we love looking at ourselves within them.

Or at least I do.

I Love to Look at Myself

I never gave much thought to this obsession of mine until recently when Paige and I were thumbing through some pictures we’d taken on our trip to San Francisco. During our trip, we walked the distance of a marathon, as we attempted to visit every touristy landmark SF had to offer in just two short days, and we took a myriad of great pictures at every destination.

Aside from the dreary, gray backdrop that plagued not just our photos, but our weekend as well, the pictures turned out great.

There was the Golden Gate Bridge

There was Lombard Street

And there was the Full House home

Each landmark was unique and captivating in its own right, but I noticed a funny thing happening each time Paige scrolled to the next picture. My eyes quickly scanned the picture and then zeroed in almost immediately upon myself. And there my eyes rested until she flipped to the next picture, where my eyes repeated the same pattern.

I’ve subconsciously noticed this about myself in the past, but never has it been more clear to me than now. I love looking back at photos capturing moments involving me. I’m less interested in the pictures that don’t contain me, though – scroll on, scroll on, keep going – but the second you flip to one containing me – STOP! that‘s the one; now just wait there for a second – my interest peaks and my eyes, like a missile, lock relentlessly upon myself, only to let go when the next picture arrives.

Now, it could be that I’m alone in this. In that case, I’ve just overshared a dirty secret about myself – or rather, my obsession with myself – and I take it all back. Forget what you read.

Or, perhaps you can relate, and now that you think about it, you do a similar thing when viewing pictures.

We Are Self-Obsessed

I suspect many more of you can relate than those who can’t. I suspect as much not because I think poorly of those reading my blog, but because I think realistically about human nature. Our self-infatuation isn’t limited to picture-viewing; obsession with self is a much deeper condition and sickness in our hearts, and picture-viewing only highlights it.

We love ourselves.

We are hopelessly and recklessly in love with the one standing across from us in the mirror. We may hate those who are self-seeking and self-obsessed, but in reality we are narcissists of the highest order. Every decision we make and every thought we think centers around self. It’s all about us and our happiness, our joy, our life.

It’s no wonder my eyes consistently fall straight upon myself in every photo I view. My life is a movie, and I’m the leading actor. It’s all about me.

Unfortunately, social media doesn’t help me here. It actually magnifies the problem by providing me with an outlet to further exercise and stretch these narcissistic muscles of mine. Hey Matt, say this and people will think you’re clever and witty. Hey Matt, post this photo to show everyone how awesome your life is. Really?

Please hear me; this is not an attack on social media. I don’t intend to shame you and make you feel guilty for utilizing it, because it certainly has its place in our society, and there is plenty of good that comes from social media. I’m simply pointing out that social media, coupled with our natural tendency toward love of self, is a deadly combination, and so we should be careful. We are so obsessed with ourselves that it’s sickening, and social media gives us the platform to cultivate and grow that obsession.

We Need a New Focus

When all of this occurred to me the other day, I almost laughed. Haha! I thought. You keep zeroing in on yourself in every photo you view. That’s funny!

Except it’s not. It’s not cute and it’s certainly not funny. It’s sad.

What I should really be saying to myself is, Look up! Take your eyes off yourself for 2 seconds and fixate on something that matters. Look at your beautiful wife standing next to you in that picture and actually tell her how thankful you are to have her. Look at the captivating scenery surrounding you and thank God for allowing you the opportunity to experience His creation.

When I focus on myself in each picture, I miss out on all the beauty and goodness the rest of the picture has to offer.

Likewise, when I focus on myself in life, I miss out on all the beauty and goodness life has to offer. I miss out on really living life and experiencing all the joy that comes from true life.

I honestly believe one of the most liberating things I can do is take my mind’s eye off myself and focus it on God and others. I mean that. I believe I would be truly free and my joy in life would increase ten-fold if I just looked up and away from myself.

Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew 16:24-25:

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Jesus effectively equates following Him with finding life. He tells us that if we want to discover true life for ourselves, then we must deny ourselves – we must die to self– and chase after Him. He knows that within Himself alone is found real joy and true life.

This is why it would be the most liberating, life-enhancing thing I could do to stop living my life centered around my own selfish wants and desires. I can’t really follow Jesus if I’m too busy looking at myself in a mirror. And if I can’t follow Jesus, I won’t find true life, for He’s the only one that has it.

“…whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Paradoxical and confusing, but Jesus’ words here are powerful and life-giving. Lose your life. Deny yourself. Take your eyes off self and all your self-centered desires and place them upon Me, He’s saying. And if you do, you will find that you don’t really lose your life at all, rather you find it. You discover true life. You obtain true joy.

Looking at Photos through a New Lens

I’m making a conscious effort now when I view photos. I want to take it all in and really enjoy all that each picture has to offer. Like this one below – see how beautiful the woman standing next to me is? And check out that scenery…so unique and captivating.

Drink these things in, Matt. Keep your eyes off yourself and really soak up all the goodness the picture has to offer.

Can I ask you to join me in doing the same with our lives? Let’s make a conscious effort to take our eyes off ourselves and fixate them on Jesus. He’s leading the way to true life. Don’t worry – if you deny yourself, you won’t really lose the true meaning and essence of who you are. On the contrary, you will find the real you. You will find real life and real joy. It’s not hard – all we need is to look up.