I was watching Nathan and Marco, our videographers, during a Livestreamed Mass and noticed how they used the techniques of selective focus. Nathan, during the consecration, as the priest raised the host, would pan up to the host and then bring it into sharp focus. Then as the priest lowered his hands Nathan would bring the crucifix, on the back wall, into focus. His camera artistry complimented the flow of the liturgy. The camera, that Nathan uses, has a number of autofocus points that he can activate, in real time, whenever he wants to change the subject in focus, to suit the composition of his shot.
Spiritually speaking, we too have built in autofocus modes. Our default settings tend to focus either on our ego or our disappointments. We all have an advanced degree in “egology” where our thesis topic is always entitled: “It really is All About Me”. Focusing on our disappointments can either lead us on the path of depression or on the path of resentment, both of which do not lead us to any sort of promised land. I was at a talk once where the speaker made the point that, our disappointments need to be cremated not embalmed.
In Marks’ gospel, chapter 8, it tells the story of Jesus healing a man who was blind. The man’s healing happened as a process, so initially, “… he looked up and said, 'I see people, but they look like trees, walking.'” At this point things were not quite in focus for him. We are kind of like that guy, there are aspects of reality that we can’t quite get into focus and that impacts on our ability to see the true picture of our lives.
On Nathan’s camera, he can install factory “firmware” upgrades that will fix any bugs and give him some new auto-focus capabilities. In John 10:10, Jesus offers to re-flash our embedded systems, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”. With our new spiritual focus modes, we can start to see ourselves and our neighbours in a totally different light and also catch a glimpse of the beatific vision.
Lent may be a good time to consciously try to give up our old focus modes and prepare ourselves up for a customized “firmware” upgrade, at Easter.
Blog photo credit: File:HP-HP9000-380-Firmware.jpg
Authors
Adele's Photography
