“Is This High Enough, Sherri?”

I was looking back at this photo recently and had to laugh remembering the day we rented a 25-foot lift machine to clean the windows on our building while I was serving as Director of Advancement.

Most people would probably focus on the window cleaning part. But of course, our Development Team photographer saw an entirely different opportunity. Instead of staying safely on the ground like a reasonable person, she climbed right up on that lift to capture the perfect dramatic “down shot” of me standing below. This is an inside joke because I was always asking her to hold the camera higher to capture less wrinkles and double chins!

Because apparently fundraising and marketing always needed a little creativity… and occasionally a mild disregard for gravity.

Looking back now, I realize those moments were about so much more than the job itself. They were about teamwork, laughter, problem-solving, and the kind of shared experiences that happen when people are deeply invested in a mission together. We worked hard, but we also knew how to have fun in the middle of it.

And honestly, some of my favorite memories from those years are not the big events or polished campaigns. They are moments exactly like this—standing outside looking up at a photographer balancing on a lift while trying not to question anyone’s decision-making skills.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine…” — Proverbs 17:22

There is something important about remembering the joy inside the work. The friendships formed in it. The stories that still make you smile years later.

And somewhere out there is probably a Development Team photographer still willing to climb questionable heights in pursuit of the perfect photo.