Some of you know I love macro photography. I am fascinated by the world of small details. It’s a magical world of wide-eyed wonder; it’s captivating and sometimes addictive! The detail in a bird’s wing, the expression in a love ones face and the intricate design in an ordinary seedpod all fascinate me.
But I’ve begun to realise that in attuning my eye to detail, I’m in danger of missing the wide view, the sweeping vistas that have their own beauty. I can be so close to something that I don’t see the complete picture. I need to take a step back, look up and out and appreciate the wide angle.
I wonder if you're like that too, so preoccupied with what’s right in front of you that you fail to see how its just part of a much larger story. Its as if we become myopic and it warps our perspective.
But I’ve begun to realise that in attuning my eye to detail, I’m in danger of missing the wide view, the sweeping vistas that have their own beauty. I can be so close to something that I don’t see the complete picture. I need to take a step back, look up and out and appreciate the wide angle.
I wonder if you're like that too, so preoccupied with what’s right in front of you that you fail to see how its just part of a much larger story. Its as if we become myopic and it warps our perspective.
Focusing on the details alone gives me a skewed view of life. But seeing only the broad spectrum I completely miss the detail and am left the poorer for the wonder and beauty I walk right by on a daily basis.
I can so often miss the moment of kindness and thoughtfulness being offered when my mind is on the job ahead; the generosity of spirit that made room for me in someone’s life and I took it for granted; the word of encouragement or the sacrifice I missed because I was preoccupied with something else. Like the flowers of the field, those moments are here today and gone tomorrow so look for them like specs of gold in a gold miner's pan.
It’s hard to get the balance isn’t it? To live this crazy, busy life with all our responsibilities, demands and long to-do-lists and still find time to zero in on the small things … to give them and to receive them.
I can so often miss the moment of kindness and thoughtfulness being offered when my mind is on the job ahead; the generosity of spirit that made room for me in someone’s life and I took it for granted; the word of encouragement or the sacrifice I missed because I was preoccupied with something else. Like the flowers of the field, those moments are here today and gone tomorrow so look for them like specs of gold in a gold miner's pan.
It’s hard to get the balance isn’t it? To live this crazy, busy life with all our responsibilities, demands and long to-do-lists and still find time to zero in on the small things … to give them and to receive them.
I read a story this week that beautifully portrays the gift of seeing the big picture and acting in the small detail. You may have seen it in The Age.
A 14 year-old Downs Syndrome boy was on a flight with his parents and siblings. Just before the plane was to land he felt sick and lay on the floor of the plane refusing to get back in his seat so the plane could land. His parents tried and the crew tried but with no avail. The plane kept circling and fuel levels were dropping.
In a moment of inspiration the pilot asked if there was a teacher onboard. A teacher came forward, laid down on the floor with the boy and asked his name, where he was from, and what was his favourite book … Winnie the Pooh. They talked about Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger, and eventually she coaxed the boy to come sit next to her.
With much relief to everyone, he did, and despite vomiting over the plane and the teacher, they were able to land safely. When the plane came to a standstill, everyone sat quietly and allowed the teacher and her new little friend to leave the plane to a big round of applause.
In the middle of a miid-air emergency came an opportunity to bend down and show love and care for a young boy, to help him to feel safe and secure and treat him with kindness and understanding.
A 14 year-old Downs Syndrome boy was on a flight with his parents and siblings. Just before the plane was to land he felt sick and lay on the floor of the plane refusing to get back in his seat so the plane could land. His parents tried and the crew tried but with no avail. The plane kept circling and fuel levels were dropping.
In a moment of inspiration the pilot asked if there was a teacher onboard. A teacher came forward, laid down on the floor with the boy and asked his name, where he was from, and what was his favourite book … Winnie the Pooh. They talked about Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger, and eventually she coaxed the boy to come sit next to her.
With much relief to everyone, he did, and despite vomiting over the plane and the teacher, they were able to land safely. When the plane came to a standstill, everyone sat quietly and allowed the teacher and her new little friend to leave the plane to a big round of applause.
In the middle of a miid-air emergency came an opportunity to bend down and show love and care for a young boy, to help him to feel safe and secure and treat him with kindness and understanding.
There’s a term in photography for the distance between the place where I stand and the far horizon, its called depth of field. It allows me to focus on the foreground detail while also keeping in focus the whole picture. That’s how I want to live my life.
Give me the eyes, Lord, to catch the moments of beauty and wonder in nature and in life. And give me your long view to the far horizon lest I become bogged down in my own existence and fail to remember that I am part of your much wider landscape.
Give me the eyes, Lord, to catch the moments of beauty and wonder in nature and in life. And give me your long view to the far horizon lest I become bogged down in my own existence and fail to remember that I am part of your much wider landscape.
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