Reflecting on Today All Day Long

When you read devotionals how long do the lessons stick in your mind? A class of high school students recently found a way to think about and reflect on Today devotional readings all day long.

Every week, students in Susan Van Geest’s photography class at Avail Academy in Fridley, Minn. participate in “Mindful Monday.”

“[Using photography,] students seek and capture the beauty around them as a way to open their eyes to the abundance of God's beauty,” Van Geest says.

As a special Mindful Monday assignment, Van Geest’s students looked at December 2020’s Today devotional. Today is produced by ReFrame Media, the English ministry of Back to God Ministries International.  December’s devotionals are written by Art Schoonveld, a retired CRC pastor, and focus on different questions the Bible asks.

Seeing God in Times of Crisis

Reflecting on December four’s devotional, “Where is God When It Hurts?” Sophie Schmidt, one student in Van Geest’s class, snapped a picture of a sunflower past its prime.

“Even things that were once beautiful are tainted by sin,” Schmidt reflected.

“The sunflower, a yellow symbol of happiness and hope dies away in the grey fall rain. This season of dark, in absence of yellow petals, is still lit by the light of God. The sun still rises and sets, the birds use the dying sunflowers seeds for food to keep warm. Everything is a cycle, and there is hope. The reassurance that things will be good in the end clings with us.”

You can see four more pictures and read four more reflections like this one on this page from Today.

“At Today, our goal is to share God’s love and strengthen the faith of people from all different backgrounds and at all stages of life,” added Jeff Bulthuis, managing editor of Today. “We are especially excited when these conversations happen among young people in our communities.

“We hope these reflections encourage you as you do your devotions this month and remind you of the young people in your life and community,” Bulthuis added.