KODAK GOT IT RIGHT!

By Bill Rayborn

Last month I wrote about how I have been going through boxes in my garage

trying to sort out years of "pack ratting." (Is that a word?) I just could not

believe how many photos I have...especially from recent years.

In the back of my mind I kept looking for photos of some of the programs I

presented at various churches. When in South Carolina I even presented

Messiah and Amahl and the Night Visitors...both in the same Christmas

season! Senator Strom Thurmond even came to these performances.

When I moved to Texas the youth choirs were booming. We were selected to

premiere three of the new youth musicals...one at the Astro Hall in Houston.

I kept looking for those "Kodak Moments" from these important parts of my

music ministry and, with the exception of a candid shots here and there....NOTHING!

Now, those of you who know me very well will be astonished about that since in

recent years you rarely see me without a camera. I even majored in photography

one year in college....but NOTHING!

I was so concerned with staging and music memorization, promotion and so many hundreds

of other details, I failed to retain an important part of my personal history for myself

and my church.

If you are under 40 or so you probably wonder why I am wasting my time and

space on something as "trivial" as preserving your history in photos and movies.

But, as one who past that mark many moons ago, I can tell you that you will

look back and wonder why you did not preserve these memories of the things

that consumed so much of your life and energy at one time.

And, while I am on the subject, remember to chronicle the growth of your

children. (And, be careful you don't just show the growth of your oldest

child for the tendency is to take many more photos and movies of that

first child over the children who may come later.)

Some of you may recall Bob Hope's theme song Thanks for the Memories.

If you keep photo, video and audio memory of your ministry and life

your children, grandchildren even more future generations will have something

to look at and recall your ministry and family and thank you for the memories.

In this day of most every phone having a still and movie camera right in

your pocket, there is little excuse for not making most every day a

"Kodak Moment."

If you agree, say "Amen."

Until Next Month,

Bill Rayborn