We all appreciate a beautiful sunset, and this one was no exception. I snapped the picture, then continued on my way. As I drove, I thought about how this was not the most picturesque sunset I've captured. The roadway on which I traveled, the street signs and light poles nearby... the refinery in the distance. Nonetheless, I just loved taking it all in... the sky, the clouds... just a cool time of day.
As I approached my destination, I considered other angles but couldn't find a place from which to get a better picture... time was my enemy, as the quarry of this hunt steadily dropped below the tree line and other objects on the horizon. Those things which we refer to as the "foreground" of the image overtook the "subject" - the big fiery ball of burning hydrogen we call The Sun - as it fell out of sight.
I marveled at how the setting sun can be so moving that we really look past the foreground. We focus on the true subject ... much like looking at the Rocky Mountains. If you've ever been to Colorado, you know how futile it is to capture the experience with a camera (not that we haven't tried). That's because our attention, our focus, is drawn to the bigger picture...one not suited to a reproduction on film (or digital).
This week I've been reminded of how my life's challenges are really pretty small compared to others'. At a meeting, I rattled off the list of things I've been dealing with lately, then shortly learned of life-altering issues facing someone else. This person's situation is one of several I've known of in the last week or two. I realized quickly that I needed to regain my perspective of the big picture.
I am truly thankful for the blessed life I lead, regardless of the petty problems I face. When I focus on The Son... it all takes its proper place in the picture.
It's all just the foreground...
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