Catching the Light: A Reflection on Worship, Heart Orientation, and Abundant Life
Photo by Nicole Burkholder, “Catching the Light”, 2021
It was mid-October 2021. My husband and I were on a weekend getaway to celebrate his birthday, enjoying a rare couple of days without kids in tow. That Saturday morning, we found ourselves in one of our favorite places: Hershey Gardens in Hershey, PA. It was serene and beautiful.
As we wandered through the garden, I pulled out my phone to capture one of many gorgeous scenes—a statue of a young girl holding a butterfly net high in the air, surrounded by a profusion of purple flowers.
I took the photo, then glanced down at my screen—and I was floored. A beam of light, invisible to the naked eye, shone directly through the net. I stared at the photo, then back at the statue. The presence and perfect placement of the light were something I never could have planned. It felt like a kiss from Heaven.
Wow, Lord, I thought.
Being me, I immediately began reflecting on the symbolism of the photo. And I haven’t stopped. Over four years later, the image still speaks to me—it even hangs in my living room. At the time, I couldn’t fully articulate why it resonated so deeply. But now, several years later, as I step into Authentically Free, I see this image as a powerful reflection of its very heart and purpose.
Catching the Light: A Beautifully Impossible Goal
In the photo, it appears as though the little girl is trying to catch a beam of light—a task that is beautifully impossible. The light passes right through her net. And yet, her posture and gaze toward the light draw attention to a reality that was invisible.
The light is there. She can’t catch it, but she can bear witness to its presence by posturing herself toward it.
Which leads us to…
Heart Orientation
I’m sure you see where I’m going with this. When we turn our whole selves toward the Light of the World—when we fix our gaze on Jesus—we become living witnesses to His presence. His light surpasses and exceeds us. We can never contain or control it, but we can posture ourselves within it, allowing our lives to point to His beauty and glory.
I’ve come to understand worship largely in terms of heart orientation. To keep our hearts turned toward Jesus, to engage with Him from wherever we are—whether in joy or struggle—is, I believe, at the very heart of worship.
An Abundance of Life
In the photo, as the little girl fixes her eyes on the light, life blooms all around her. She stands in the midst of towering purple flowers, flourishing in every direction.
Curious, I looked up the name of the flowers surrounding her: Salvia.
And then I discovered something incredible—the word Salvia comes from the Latin salvus, meaning “safe, secure, healthy.” It shares the same root as our word salvation.
Once again, Wow, Lord.
I couldn’t have planned this if I had tried.
As the girl lifts her eyes to the light, life flourishes around her. And this is the heart of Authentically Free—the belief that when we fix our eyes on Jesus and live in His light, His life flourishes in and around us. We are held safe and secure in Him, and the overflow of His presence blesses those around us.
The Invitation
Authentically Free is all about heart orientation—about abiding in Christ and the beauty, nourishment, and freedom that come from dwelling in Him. Like the little girl, we turn toward the Light, and He brings the glory, the beauty, the goodness, and the good fruit.
But let’s be honest—sometimes we have to fight to abide. Sometimes we have to wrestle to keep our hearts turned toward Him, or to return them to Him. I know I do. Yet even in the struggle, His patience and grace meet us, gently calling us to turn our hearts toward Him again and again.
That’s why Authentically Free exists—to walk alongside you in this beautiful, worthy pursuit of life with Him, in Him, and for Him.
Let’s journey together.
I’m so grateful that you’re here.
Your companion on the journey,
Nicole