Visio Divina: Seeing with the Eyes of the Heart

"Take a few moments of silence to center in your body, becoming present to the Spirit."— Christine Valters Paintner

Visio Divina—Latin for "divine seeing"—is the sacred art of gazing. Not a stare. Not an analytical scan. But a soft, open presence. It’s a prayer of the eyes, where we slow down, breathe deep, and let the image speak to our spirit. It’s the visual rhythm of lectio divina, but instead of Scripture, it’s light, shadow, movement, texture, and mystery that draw us closer to God.

The practice moves gently:

• Casting a gentle gaze with the eyes of your heart – This means choosing to see not just with sight, but with soul. What if our eyes were portals to wonder?

• Wander, explore, be present – Let the image unfold slowly. Don’t rush. Let curiosity lead.

• Notice where you are being called to rest – Where does your gaze settle? That resting point might just be where God wants to meet you.

• Sit with the feelings that surface – Joy, grief, awe, stillness—each has a lesson.

• Reflect – Ask: What is God saying here? What is my response?

When I first read Christine Valters Paintner’s description of this practice, something clicked. This is exactly how I feel when I’m behind the lens. This is how I approach my photography.

I don’t just take images. I receive them.

I’ll often sit in the car, breathe, pray, close my eyes. My breath prayer is simple:"Empty me, and fill me with You, Lord."And then I wait. I move slowly. I ask to be led. Sometimes, I take a photo that doesn’t seem to “work,” only to realize later it was exactly what my soul needed to capture.

There are thousands of components in a single frame. Light. Movement. Shadows. Noise. Wind. Texture. Cloudplay. I used to believe I needed a “better camera” or “more skill” to be a real photographer. That I had to earn greatness. But I’ve come to realize: I don’t need to be “great.” I just need to show up, keep going, and fail forward.

Photography became a healing practice for me. It’s spiritual. Sometimes I felt forced by circumstances or divine nudges to pick up the camera. Sometimes I had to drag myself out. But every photo has mattered. Even the ones that never get shared.

John Maxwell, in his book Intentional Living, reminds us: "Results require action." So this post? It’s me taking action. No more waiting to write the perfect response—just writing it.

Visio Divina continues to teach me:God sees. God paints. God breaks down and rebuilds.There are images that still move me to tears, not because of what’s in them, but because of what was happening in me when I took them. That’s the sacred. That’s the divine.

So, if you find yourself in a hard or silent season—consider pausing to gaze. Not just with your eyes, but with your heart. There is beauty waiting to be found, and a God who longs to meet you in it.

Photography