So, you know when you take a picture, and you have one thing in focus and then the rest of the image is blurry or out of focus? That’s depth of field, and depending on the settings of your camera, that can be as dramatic or subtle as you wish! For example, if you are taking a picture of a glass of water, sitting on a picnic table at the park on a hot day with a SHALLOW depth of field, you can focus on a drop of condensation on the glass, and the rest of the image will be blurry. lf you shoot with a GREAT depth of field, EVERYTHING is going to be in focus from the glass to the table to the tree and even to the dog doing a backflip across the street in the background.
Why am I explaining this? Because last week at training camp, God used Depth of Field to help me grow.
The first thing He did was he took a snapshot of my life and he showed it to me. Let me tell ya, His snapshot looked a whole lot different than my snapshot. The subject was the same, the elements that made up the photo were the same, the lighting was similar, but the difference was… He shot it with a great depth of field, with EVERYTHING in focus… and I shot it with a shallow depth of field, where only a little bit was in focus and a lot of it blurred out.
I’m not gonna lie, my first thought was “But God, look how much cooler my photo looks with this awesome depth of field! Look how you’re only focused on one thing and you cant see everything else in the background!!”
As soon as I said it, I heard it. I imagined God looking at me as he watched the realization come through with a gentle grin on his face as he waited patiently for it to click. In the photo God took, because EVERYTHING was in focus, I was able to see things more clearly than in mine. I was able to realize that maybe I shouldn’t have blurred out some of the things that I did. In fact, my snapshot could have been much stronger if I would have changed my focal point to some of those blurred elements.
Don’t get me wrong, a shallow depth of field isn’t bad, it’s actually really awesome and has the potential to help create a powerful image! We just have to learn when to use it and what subjects to use it on. As a photographer, we are 110% in control of what we choose to focus on, and what we choose to blurr out.
While God used this analogy throughout many many things all week long, the most prevalent was when He was showing me my own identity. Sometimes, instead of focusing on what God says I am, I blurr that out, and focus on what society says I am, or what I am not. I focus on lies:
My body image needs to look a very specific way.
I should care more about how much money I’m making.
I don’t have enough knowledge or experience.
I should be married right now.
And the list goes on and on. The thing is, all of those things are a lie. I can’t deny that they are there and they exist, but if I am going to be blurring things out, it should be those lies rather than the truth that comes from God. My focus should be sharply on what He says I am:
I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psa 139:14)
I am accepted. (Rom 15:7)
I have wisdom. (1Cor 1:30)
I have a purpose. (Jer 29:11)
This list goes on and on as well. Rob Reimer put it boldy, “Until what God says about you is the truth you believe, your foundation will be shaken.”
Just like a great photograph, what we decide to focus on makes all the difference. Sometimes, we get really comfortable with that shallow depth of field setting and we can’t steer away from focusing on those one or two things. What I’m learning, is that every now and then we simply just need a new perspective. I need to not be afraid to adjust that setting, because clarity is a beautiful thing, and there is a power in being able to see the bigger picture. From there, we can zoom in on that truth, blurr out the lies, and be more confident that God created us in HIS likeness.
And if that’s not the most incredible thing ever… I don’t know what is!!! 🙂
