Why don’t you see more pictures from us?
A question we sometimes get is actually quite a nice one:
I would like to see some more pictures of the both of you in action.
Great question! We completely understand it. And now the answer… why don’t we do that much more and actually very little in comparison?
Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 6:1
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3
It’s not about us, but what and for whom we do everything on this side of the globe.
We so often see photos of people (in the newspaper, in a newsletter, online) along the lines of: “Look at me doing good stuff in a poor country”. We have developed a bit of an allergy to it, to be honest. What are you doing then? For your own glory?
So, for that reason, we are very cautious about that. The same with speeches in a church about “look what we do”. We prefer to point out “who” we are doing “what” for, rather than ourselves. It has nothing to do with us being shy (we’re not) or afraid (ditto) or whatever, but it has everything to do with what the focus should be on. And that’s not on us.
That does have a huge disadvantage… with a photo of yourself in a “sad / poor” project you attract more people and more money comes in. Ditto, a photo of a sponsor for a “sad / poor” project. After all, he or she then feels very flattered and deposits more money faster. It shouldn’t be that way, but that’s how it works. We sometimes also hear this from marketing people:
Take a picture of yourself with a homeless person on a bench when you give him coffee, that will bring in more money. If needed, buy the coffee to make that great picture.
And we’re so not going to do that. It is not “we” who should be in the spotlight, not “us” who are the main subject of a photo, not “us” who want to be the main subject of a photo, but the person we are helping, and the reason for which we are doing it. That’s where all the honor and glory goes. And yes, that costs money, it is what it is. Our reward? It comes from The Father. We trust Him.
OK, OK, you asked for it, a picture of us. Everyone happy. 🙂 More the enough for now.
And more photos of us… we continue to look for balance… every time. Who is it all about?
