Out of Focus
I often take pictures or create art to illustrate what I write.
More often I take pictures for pleasure capturing what I see.
Sometimes those pictures speak to me, like the one I took on a walk this last week.
The shaft of sunlight seemed to beam upon walkers in the distance, and I was reminded how often I ask God to illumine my path. That thought inspired this breath prayer.
Light on my Path
Another picture that grabbed my attention from a previous walk was this photo of weeds. I had been trying to catch a photo of a cow, but in playing with my focus, the emphasis ended up on the weeds. I actually think it is pretty cool.
Out of focus
How does this photo speak to you? I’ve done those kind of exercises, at retreats, where we ponder a image and reflect what it might be saying to us.
Here were a few thoughts that came to my mind.
We can’t see clearly, our future is unknown. Out of focus. We can plan but we can’t predict.
I can focus on barriers. Restrictions.
I miss the beauty that is before me, thinking about what I long for.
I can change the focus to what is now, what is beautiful.
These are lessons for me in a time of Covid. Instead of focusing on restrictions, barriers, or longing for what is out of reach (life back to normal, as I might remember it), I can look for beauty in front of me and around me. I can focus on gratefulness, kindness, gifts of the day.
A photo is worth 1000 words they say. I’m close to 300, but that’s OK.
Curious what the cows were thinking.
