Thursday, December 29, 2011

Where Is Your Focus?

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."  1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)

I fail miserably at videography.  Really miserably.

My first major film disaster was a few years back when I hoped to capture the hatching of some killdeer birds in my backyard.  I'll put it this way.  There was lots of footage of mulch and the flapping lens cap...like 10 long minutes or so.  Never even found the nest...with the camera, that is.

Most recently, my talents were tried once again as I attempted to capture the essence of the homes that my daughter and son-in-law were scoping out in hopes of joining the forces of mortgage payers.  My hubby was unable to be with us and...well...every Daddy wants to be in on the action.  Hence the video.

Okay, so first of all, you should know that a Flip camera doesn't really mean that you can flip it in any direction and the picture will be upright on your computer.

And it's really good if you note whether the red button is pushed or not. And that you're filming what you mean to film and not your shoes or the stairs or the rear end of the person going up in front of you.

We almost needed Dramamine to watch...and couldn't even see much of the house.

The video may only be worthy of deletion.

However, the lesson I observed will remain.

I spent way too much time focused on the little...really little...screen in front of me.  And I missed the BIG picture.  There was so much that I didn't even see!

I think that maybe God clapped and said, "Ah!  She's got it!" as the spiritual application struck me almost immediately.

While we're trapped in this earthly tent, we can only see what's playing out on the tiny screen of our lives.  He sees so much more.  And we have to trust Him for the unseen.  That's faith.  "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

And He's got a good plan...one to prosper us and not to harm us.  He is molding us into the likeness of Himself, shaping us with purpose.  "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.  But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."  1 John 3:2  And then we'll view the widest screen version...and understand.

Lord, as the father in Mark 9:4 cried out, we believe!  Help us in our unbelief.  Help us to trust You, knowing that You hold the future in Your hands.  Thank You for calling us Your children.  We love You.

7 comments:

Kathy said...

A most Interering and thought provoking analogy !

Susan said...

You made me laugh with the image of filming somebody's behind! And needing dramamine? Have mercy, I'm guilty of that myself!

Great spiritual application, and I'm SURE it made God smile!!

Love you :)

Carrie said...

Mommy! I love how you see God in the everyday stuff (and in this case, hilarious stuff)! I love you!

Marcia Chadwick Moston said...

So perfectly does the Lord uses the stuff of life to open our eyes.Think we've all been there with the fleeting, flailing footage.

Kristi Butler said...

Kathy, Susan, my precious Carrie, and Marcia, thank you for stopping by!! Isn't it fun to find joy in the Lord...the creator of laughter??

I'm praying sweet blessings for each of you right now.

MyAwesomeOliveShoots said...

Let's not talk about the 20 minute video of the chair upholstery at my brother's wedding. The poor lens on the videocamera tried its darndest to focus on the smallest threads on the chair. It's quite hilarious and utterly useless! I love how the Lord speaks to your heart and gives you a perspective to share with all of us that is challenging and still loving! I think you're fabulous but I will not ask you to film any of our family's significant events!

Kristi Butler said...

Hi Cindy!!!
Okay, so I'll refrain from bringing the Flip with me. ;)

Love you and miss you! Hope to see you soon!