I recently spent some time at the Inner City Mission (ICM) of Springfield Illinois.

When we got there and Jeff Higginson started handing out jobs, he sent some to the shed, some to the pantry, and some were raking leaves, and the lucky few were sent to the deep freeze. (Sorry Guys!!!)

My job was Photographer of the Day.

At first I was snapping shots of our group as they were working in their various places, But as time went on I became more interested in the faces of the people rather than the jobs they were doing. And soon the jobs were done and we got to PLAY!

The kids staying at the mission had so much fun just playing with us. They wanted our attention. They wanted our love.

What brought these kids to a homeless shelter? I don't know their stories. But I know that being "photographer of the day" taught me a good lesson, I saw things more clearly through the lens of a camera.

You see, at the start of the day I pitied those kids. " Oh! those poor homeless kids! How sad for them!"

Then it hit me. It is not the fault of those children that they are homeless. They are innocent children who were born into bad circumstances. They just want to play.....to be KIDS. They want to be loved.

And ICM is a place were they can do that. They can feel safe there. They can be kids, but most of all they can learn about the God who loves them even when Mommy or Daddy doesn't.

So these kids have no need for my pity.

At first I thought I was just taking pictures. Now I see that Photographer of the Day is the best job there is. It certainly helped me see things more clearly.