We film my sermon early in the morning on Wednesdays. We try to use “golden hour” that time right after sunrise because it produces the best light of the day and I need all the helpI can get. I had filled out the permit application and the Tyler Film Commission had approved my request to film in downtown Tyler. We loaded the van at 6:15 AM and then headed to the East. Sunrise was at 7:11. When we got to the square we started to unload.
We assessed the light and realized the place where I needed to film was going to be hit by strong light in just a few minutes and so we need to film fast. Our team started to move quickly and assembled all the parts to our set-up. I put up the timeplase camera. This little camera has the ability to film for about 2 hours taking picture every 3 seconds while panning the camera. It then assembles the pictures into a movie. Not that long ago it would be an immense undertaking with expensive equipment. Now a simple handheld camera can do it all. It is about the size of a candy bar. We have used it since Covid began and we love these 1 minute slices of time.
After we filmed the light rose and washed out the area and we were glad we had started early. Then we walked across the square to get some coffee at a friends coffee shop. I let the camera keep filming because we were finished in about an hour and it needed the extra time. The coffee was good and then we headed to film at the Rose gardens. Then it was back to Athens for a full day of filming for the Christmas Eve service. As we parked in the slid parking lot at the church I realized that I had not picked up the time-lapse camera.
I tired not to panic. I considered the distance back to Tyler and the schedule for the day. I did not have time to drive back and forth right then. I called a friend who lives in Tyler, but they did not answer. Then I called Joe Wood. After he retired they moved to Tyler. I told him my problem. He put on his shoes and headed out. I consulted the google oracle and it said he would arrive in 16 minutes. I paced. He wanted details about he camera and its location. I created the map above and 2 others to show its eaxct location. About 20 minutes later he called. “I have the camera.” I was so relived. The next day his wife, Glenda, who still works for the city of Athens, brought the camera back to Athens.
The footage is great and will be in the service this week. It shows the light coming into the square and lighting the trees on fire.
I’ve been thinking a lot this week while reading the book of Hosea about being lost and being found. I’s so thankful that when I was lost, God came looking for me.