Capture the Moment, Hold the Focus
Not long ago, my son and I took a walk in the woods. We were in search of signs of spring.
Before we set out, I grabbed my digital camera and gave instructions to my five-year-old.
I found my old camera while cleaning out a filing cabinet in my office. My husband and I bought it when we were newly married, but after we both got smartphones, it had sat unused. I knew my son would be delighted to try it.
I showed him how to look through the viewing screen, point the lens at a subject, and hold the button to capture the picture. The picture I shot appeared on the display.
My son smiled broadly and grabbed the camera. He ran ahead, crouching to take pictures of flowers or an insect. Then, with his arms stretched to heaven, he took photos of the clouds.
He flitted from one object to the next. Like the dragonflies that live near our pond, he didn’t stay long in one place. Anything that drew his attention was photographed.
I didn’t mind as he ran ahead of me. I breathed in the moist spring air. Green of every variety popped out at me. It was truly spring!
Halfway down the wooded path, we examined a moss-covered stump. I pointed out how using different perspectives makes unique pictures. I crouched down to take a shot from the ground and then stood above the stump. I showed my son how to keep the camera steady so the image didn’t blur.
He nodded his head, took the camera back, and ran on.
At the end of the trail, we came to the big pond on the far side of our neighborhood. My son found sticks and rocks to throw into the pond. He handed me the camera so it wouldn’t accidentally tumble into the water. Then raindrops started to fall. We marveled at how the drops made ringlets in the pond, just like the rocks had. He snatched the camera from me and took a picture of the pond.
The raindrops came faster and faster. Our laughter filled the woods as we ran toward home. Back at the house, with wet clothes clinging to us, my son and I were excited to see the pictures.
I turned on the digital camera and pressed the play button to see my son’s pictures, but I was confused. There were the three photos we took at the beginning of the walk, when I explained how the camera worked, and there were the three photos from the middle of our walk, when I showed him how to use angles. But where were all the pictures he had taken in between?
Then it dawned on me. Although my son had tried, he hadn’t actually taken any pictures. He was so excited to move on to the next thing. He had pressed the camera button to focus the image but hadn’t held it long enough to take the picture.
We were both disappointed, but I understood. It is easy to go through the motions in life without even realizing we are missing the picture. I, too, am guilty of doing one thing while my focus is on the anticipated next thing. I’m like a cat who’s dropped off in the middle of a busy intersection. My mind goes this way and that, not sure where to dart.
However, when I choose to focus on Jesus, all my other priorities line up.
Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds us, “. . .let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (NIV).
In our fast-paced culture, it’s easy for my to-do list to grow longer than the hours I have for it. Focusing on Jesus reminds me of what’s important: Love God; love others (Matt. 22:36-40).
It’s that simple. Everything else is just a distraction. When I keep this in mind, suddenly I can see what I need to do.
I capture the moment.
I’m happy to report that my son’s second attempt to photograph signs of spring was a success.
He came back from the woods with images of a brown leaf in the green grass, a fallen branch covered in moss, a yellow jessamine flower ,a view of the treetops opening to the sky. He even captured an image of the garbage man waving from his truck, whom we happened to see as we crossed the road.
My son remembered to slow down, focus, hold the button longer. Sure, some of his pictures were blurry (he is still learning). But I’m sure his next batch of photos will be even better.
I hope to keep learning, too. To pause. To refocus. And to keep my eyes on Jesus.
is a wife, mother, and self-appointed adventure curator. As a lifelong learner, she enjoys exploring the Midwest where she lives and painting her experience of motherhood with words.
Photograph © Annie Spratt, used with permission
