Think back for a moment to art class in junior high. There were probably many, many horrible paintings, drawings and other types of art that are best left in the past. Some other things stick with you, though. I thought I learned to color before I ever stepped into a Kindergarten class. My coloring books were full of beautiful rainbow colored houses, people, animals and landscapes. My innocent 3 year old mind saw the wonder that was in every color. I made sure no crayon was left out of any picture. I even made sure to color within the lines!
Then I came to junior high art class. Rainbow animals became a thing of the past, and I learned that there is a particular way to use crayons so that one cannot even see the marks left behind. “It must be realistic, not haphazardly marked over.” This was one of many phrases I would hear about my coloring skills until I mastered the technique to my teacher’s liking.
Although that particular one annoyed me ever so slightly as a child, I knew that there was a reason why knowing how to utilize a crayon on paper “properly” could be useful. Perhaps someone might need this skill to illustrate a book or other work. As for me, I did not see the point in trying to color as a professional on my own time, and I allowed myself to color as I saw fit in my personal crafts, saving the detail for class assignments.
There was, however, one skill that I thoroughly enjoyed learning how to utilize- the focal point.
One single dot could begin an entire picture. It did not matter what scene was to be drawn, what story was to be told, it always began with one dot. Everything would align with this dot, the focal point. A ruler might be used to make sure each added line was in focus, or in line with, the focal point. When the scene on paper was all done, it would look quite realistic and believable as it was all centered around the focal point. Without that dot would be chaos. Lines might be close, but not quite where they needed to be. This might not seem like a big deal for one or two lines to be slightly off center. But if the entire page of lines that make up the drawing is off by the teeniest bit, the finished picture as a whole is not the best that it could have been- perhaps fair to medium in quality instead.
My brain works in unique ways. I love to find obscure analogies or connections between things that seem to have nothing in common. I once heard a sermon several years ago about how our focus should be on Christ. My mind instantly went to that focal point you learn of in art class. That connection has always stayed with me subconsciously. Focus on Jesus and your life will be what it needs to be. Sounds simple enough. And it is, if you are drawing a simple highway through the desert. But what about a more complicated scene that includes a winding highway over hills and through tunnels. Houses and skyscrapers are in view with cars zooming along or parked in various directions. Bushes, trees, flowers and weeds all dot the inside of this frame. Squirrels scurry up one tree and down another, while cows and birds are standing in the corner pasture. This entire scene is brimming with detail and life. At a glance, there is no dot. But the artist most certainly utilized a focal point.
The thing about life is exactly that- it is brimming with LIFE. There is detail and what many deem “the little things in life” everywhere we turn. These are all beautifully intertwined with the larger things, or big events that occur- a wedding, graduation, family dynamics changing or a move, for example. All of these events or things in life (big and little) create what we all experience every single day. Picturing the hustle and bustle that is life, it seems that we all just go about our day monotonously repeating life the same or similar to the day before.
What most of us tend to forget is that there is a focal point. Everyone and everything points right to God, if we stop glancing at the picture as a whole and begin taking notice of things individually. That winding highway on the paper? It eventually leads right up to the focal point. The flowers dotting the side of that highway, the skyscrapers and hills- they all lean and point towards that focal point. This brings it all together.
In the monotony of living each day similar to that of the day before, we tend to get lost in the rhythm of doing exactly the same things over and over again. Glazed over and exhausted from doing so much, we lose sight of the true focal point. Instead, the focus lands on the things we see, emotions we feel or experiences occurring around us. As time goes on and we get closer to the Lord’s return, self is turning into more of a focal point than anything else.
It is very easy to use self as the focal point since we are so much closer to those human thoughts and feelings- especially when we are weary or not fully in use of our temporary body the way we would prefer. The thing is, we were created for a relationship with God our Creator. Our very being of three parts (spirit, soul, and body) point directly to the likeness of the Creator Himself. It is quite impossible to get away from the fact that our focal point is God when our existence tells of His existence.
No matter where we look, what we see, feel or experience- every single thing points to God. Not the thing or experience itself, or even self as a focal point. Using self or any other thing simply won’t work because we move in thoughts and feelings. Other things come and go or grow and die. But God has no beginning or ending and praise the Lord, He never changes.
To use anything or anyone other than God as the focal point would be to create a life that is all distorted, chaotic. Just as if you were to draw a picture and use any spot at random for making the next strokes. In order to have a life of peace, we must train ourselves to see God as the focal point. When we do this, we also open up a line of communication between Him and us. Likewise, when we open a line of communication such as thru praise, prayer or thanksgiving, it opens our senses to that of God’s creation. This is a beautiful rhythmic relationship that we were created to have. As we practice, it becomes easier and more natural as it once was in the beginning. The more we see things pointing to our Creator, the more our relationship with Him will grow. The more our relationship with Him grows, the more we see how all things point towards Hm.
Most days, it is easy to throw our hands up and say “what’s the point?” Just like the attitude I had when learning to “properly” use a crayon.
What would happen if instead, the question became “What is the focal point?” We might just end up with a closer relationship with the One Who created us and all that surrounds us. We just might end up finding some much needed peace and rest.
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
