Advent Pic-a-Day

In late November, my friend Winn Collier invited me to participate in an Instagram project, using the popular mobile photo-sharing service to "watch for light" during the Advent season (one of the two big seasons of the Christian year). I'm a big fan of Instagram and always looking for something that helps me to be more mindful of these seasons, so I was excited to participate. We're now more than halfway into it. It's been a blast.

Here are a few of my favorite personal photos so far. You can find a lot of these on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #adventpicaday.

"Light…not yet in focus." (The tree in front of my parent's house, from Dec. 12):

"Light through rippled glass" (Our outdoor lights seen through a window in our entryway, from Dec. 11):

"Light reflected" (A sunset pic of ANB Plaza Two, from Polk Street in downtown Amarillo, Dec. 8):

"Beauty from mistakes" (An unintentional photo taken along the Strip in Las Vegas, from Dec. 5):

Just as a Lenten fast helps Christians remain mindful in the days and weeks leading up to Easter, having to take a photo every day during Advent — and staying on the alert for good "light" opportunities — has been a very helpful way for me to remember the Great Light during Advent.

If you're an Instagram user, it's not too late to join us. Do a search for #adventpicaday and start watching.