Focus

The manual focus setting on my camera rarely gets used. I just don’t trust my eyes to capture a clear photo. As I have gotten a little more mature (clearing my throat saying older!) my vision just isn’t as clear as it used to be, even with corrective lenses.  So that automatic focusing comes in handy.  But it doesn’t push me to excellence.

Lately, I have struggled to truly focus on what really matters.   Life seems to roll on at an ever-maddening pace and drags me along.  Bumps and bruises and ugly gashes scar me up from being bounced around on the asphalt of life.  And with each hard bounce my focus is altered.  Those potholes can get really deep.  My auto-focus needs an adjustment.

Shaking my head to clear thoughts doesn’t help.  I have tried.  Just causes my brain to rattle around leaving behind a headache.

Having a “little” snack doesn’t help.  I have tried.  Just adds extra weight to consume a little more of my focus.

Getting on social media doesn’t help.  I have tried.  A complete discombobulation of focus!

This lack of focus can cause me to doubt my sanity among many other things!  I begin to doubt my worth.  I begin to doubt my God-given abilities.  I begin to doubt my faith.  I begin to doubt those who love me.  I even doubt God in the midst of deep turmoil.

Not only does it leave me bruised and beaten but it blurs the lines of truth.

So I flip the switch to manual focus.  I get to choose the shot.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  James 1:5-6 (NKJV)

Purposefully, placing the viewfinder against my right eye, standing steady and sure, elbows tucked in at my ribs, left hand supporting the weight of the camera, left fingers gently adjusting the focus ring, right eye judging the subject, right index finger on ready to capture the shot.  Still.  No wavering.  Squeezing ever-so slightly with my right hand.  One jerk could leave the shot blurred.

Even in the midst of chaos, there exists details.  Sometimes you have to get real still and quiet to focus on them, but they are there.  It takes practice to notice them when you are moving.  That’s a lesson I need to learn!

But when the truth comes into focus, reality reminds that Jesus is just a call away.  And He always answers.  He brings clarity and calm in chaos.  He doesn’t cause me to bounce around like a bobble-head.  He never changes.  He is security.  There is no risk in Him.  He always provides clear shots.  No blurring of lines with Him.  He gives focus.