A photographer, when looking through a camera lens, is typically focused on a subject; however, before their eye is captivated by a shot, they begin by canvasing their surroundings. A great photographer isn’t usually looking for the easy shot; they intentionally wait for that unique moment; the sun is hitting just right, colors are taking on a new hue, it’s the unfolding of unrepeatable beauty. Their lens starts wide and zooms in, excluding everything in their peripheral, until that moment in time, when they just know, and in a split second they capture time and make it printable history. They apprehend emotions and sensations that move people to change, and transports them to new places. Their skill is birthed from a passion, but it develops through an investment.
Now take our lives and parallel them with that of the photographer. Whether it be our walk with God, our dreams, or our careers there are some who stay focused, and those who get out of focus. People can carry the same passion, but the difference between those who succeed and those who never get beyond being passionate comes down to what is invested.
We invest in what we are focused on. Focus on the wrong scenery, and your passions will change and so will your investment. It’s not a bad idea to canvas our lives; see what our lens is focused on. Chances are we’ll need to start wide and zoom in, adjust for clarity, and then wait for it…
Yes, wait. It is the investment most overlooked, typically because it’s considered a waste – a time of doing nothing; however, it is one of the single most important investments, and it separates the average from the exceptional. A skilled photographer would never consider waiting to be wasteful; their waiting is a refinement process of their skills. It teaches a photographer that there is more to come, and the value of timing. Waiting brings about experience, it sharpens their eyes to judge the difference between
the mundane and the unforgettable. In the waiting, photographers come to know the difference between a distraction, a noteworthy sacrifice, and an opportunity missed.
Yet, a photographer waiting without purpose, can be misdirected. Like the photographer, our waiting should remain focused and purposeful; whether we are waiting on God, or on the fulfillment of a promise, we need to allow the wait to sharpen us in the areas of:
Distractions: the things that prevent someone from giving full attention to something else. Like the photographer whose subject is fixed in their lens; Purposeful, focused waiting limits unnecessary distractions; God, spoken promises, goals all need to be the reminder of why we wait.
A noteworthy sacrifice: a significant act of giving up something valued for the sake of something regarded as more important or worthy. A photographer may take thousands of shots, and 100’s are discarded, not because they are poor, but because they are looking for the extraordinary. Not everything good is for right now. Sometimes having to hold off on something wonderful, to attain something incredible, is a necessary sacrifice to fulfill our destiny.
A missed opportunity: failure to notice, hear, or understand a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something significant. Although painful when missed, a humbling necessity to know the difference. Many times we have to experience missed opportunities so we know what the authentic looks like.
If we allow our waiting to bring value, our focus will be clearer, and our ability to know when to take our shot will be skillfully honed for that moment in time.
A moment in time: A definitive portion of time allotted, used, or suitable for a purpose This is what we stand and wait for, the suitable time that turns the ordinary into extraordinary!
The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them. ~ Denis Watley
you make me smile! 🙂
The perspective of the photographer is a good one. However, there are times when we can become so focused on a particular goal or desire that it hinders us from “living”. There is a balance and yes, there is always the wait, but in the waiting, we can then develop our measure of trusting in Him for those things to come to fulfillment!