I have been fascinated with the range of photographs that have been included in collections of perfect timing images. A photograph taken in the right place at the right time at a great angle can have some surprising results.
Some pictures taken of an animal and a person give the illusion of an animal head on a human body because of the position of the animal. Some are pictures with surprise backgrounds – such as the Olympic rings sitting on top of the moon or a man appearing to step onto the moon.
Some pictures presented in a string of perfect timing photos were actually accidentally timed that way. The photographer was surprised at the image he caught with his camera. He may have been unaware of something in the background or that he was catching a special reflection. Occasionally the surprise was in the foreground such as the comical image of a ground squirrel becoming the focus of a “selfie” of a vacationing couple. The squirrel popped into the shot at the last moment. His image was crystal clear and the couple’s image was cloudy.
I even surprised myself when I was playing around with the camera feature on my e-reader and took a picture with the setting sun making a beautiful reflection on the water. Two things were surprising about this photograph. I’m a terrible photographer and the picture was taken backwards because the camera on the Kindle Fire is basically designed to be used with SKYPE (or maybe to take a “selfie”).
Other perfect timing photos have been painstakingly orchestrated. The NASA telescopes have produced some amazing images, but the personnel sometimes waited for months or years to get exactly what they wanted.
Discovery in Orbit
Discovery’s cargo bay over Earth’s horizon was photographed by one of the seven STS-114 crew members as the Shuttle approached the International Space Station.
Credit: NASA
What is not accidental is God’s timing. In our impatience, we may think He is not working or that He has forgotten about a specific need or request of ours. The truth is, His timing is always perfect. His timing may be a surprise to us, but it is not to Him.
You may pray for years about something just to realize that if He had given it to you before the right time, everything else would have been all wrong. He can coordinate perfect timing for you, your family, your friends and everyone else all at once.
When I am tempted to think that God is not working or is late, I remember that He has a totally different perspective that I do. I am slowly learning to trust His timing.
Chaos at the Heart of Orion
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/STScI
To every thing there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…I said in my heart, ‘God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and every work’ (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 17). My times are in Your hand (Psalm 31:15a). But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31). NKJV.
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