I recently attended a memorial service for someone very close to me. Family members gave testimonials followed by music and prayers.  Afterwards, a projection screen descended from the chapel ceiling. More music and then suddenly a slide show of her life.  Photographs of her as an infant, a young girl, her first tricycle, dressed and smiling in a girl scout uniform. Time began to move quickly. We see her posed in a prom dress and then a wedding gown. Always smiling at the camera. Always aware of it's presence, it's importance. As I watched I realized that our lives are not made up of monumental events. There are weddings and babies being born, high school and college graduation, but the small moments seemed more important.  I keep seeing her beautiful face as she poses for her mom (or dad) in her girl scout uniform. The sun casting a shadow over her left shoulder. It's one of those New England Spring days that gives you hope that winter is finally over. So many small moments that make up an entire life. Most of these memories are forgotten. They become blurry and fade with time.  We remember the big events because they are in brilliant Kodachrome, etched in our minds forever.  But all those small moments that were captured tell the real story. The look in her eyes as she opens her Christmas present, the gesture she makes while holding her baby sister all tell us more about her than words can describe.
Photographs can often deceive but if you look close enough there is truth and there is beauty.