As I walked on the
nature trails, I wandered off the beaten path.
Large toadstools nestled under a grove of blue spruce trees attracted my
attention.
Pushing aside
branches, I walked fifteen feet, entering a small clearing. The ground, carpeted with years of
accumulated needles, felt soft beneath my feet.
A chorus of crickets broke the silence.
In the distance a woodpecker drilled, searching for insects. Inside my clearing, all was shadow, quiet and
still; it became a sanctuary that soothed my soul. A smattering of bright red
sumac leaves provided stained-glass windows.
I sat on this carpet, gazing at the beauty all around me, and I felt the
presence of God. Strains of “This Is
Holy Ground” ran through my head.
Looking out an
opening between the horizontal branches, I observed the golden radiance of the
late afternoon sun. Outside my sanctuary, the seed heads of the natural prairie
grasses glowed transparently in the sun’s light, creating a stunning contrast
to the shadowy grove. The scene was
breath-taking: I had to capture it on film.
When I put the camera to my eye, it was focused on the branches in the
foreground. They seemed large and dark,
like horizontal prison bars, and the golden glow of the grasses in the
background was barely noticeable. I refocused the camera. Then the tall, dried
grass, shot through with light, became the focus of my picture; the branches in
the foreground almost disappeared.
I took my picture,
and I thought: how many times in my life
do I focus on the tree branches right in front of me that impede my spiritual
way, and thus fail to see God’s light just beyond? How many times do I allow myself to become
discouraged over minor problems instead of focusing my thoughts on the
brilliance of God’s majesty or the comforting glow of his love? It’s all a
matter of focus.
Remembering the
lesson of the camera’s focus enables me to thank God in all situations and
focus on His spiritual light shining beyond my earthly troubles.
Father let my eyes
see beyond the earthly; let me steadfastly watch your spiritual light. May I always focus on the wonders you have created,
on the wonder of you.
