Today was a great day. I’m disappointed the Seahawks lost, but my goodness what a great game! I hope Seattle is proud of their team. They’ll be back.
Then came the inevitable commercials and the likewise inevitable pulls on my heart strings as I watched the children focused AT & T commercials.
I am very proud of my children and my four grandchildren. Unfortunately it wasn’t until nine years ago when I held Autumn, my first grandchild, that the scales fell from my eyes and the blinders began to slip from my heart. I finally got a glimpse; a hint, of what life is all about, even though I cannot explain it.
At that time Seminary was the lens that helped me focus on what is really important and discard the nonsense of the truly insignificant; me and the things I’d like to have.
Depth of field is a photographer’s best tool for maximizing the effect of a photograph. For me, shifting my focus from myself to my bride, children, grandchildren, and friends is a transformational process that only God can complete. Before I pass I hope God will complete that process and extend my depth of field to include acquaintances and even strangers. That and only that can maximize any good that might arise from my life. I suppose I will have to live a long time.
So what is this feeling that makes watching young children such an emotional experience? Advertisers recognize it and capitalize on it, even if they don’t understand it either.
I can’t explain the heart melting feeling that comes from watching and listening to these little people. It took a long time for this feeling to overthrow my own self-centeredness and begin the process of making others more important than myself, but I am so grateful the process began.
I suppose those who don’t believe in God or life after death would simply say it is a natural parental instinct that all of us are born with. Really! Then why does it take too many of us so long to learn that others are more important than we are, and that little people are our connection with eternity?
It’s wonderful that so many of us are so concerned about animals, but I hope one day we’ll learn to see each other, whether near or distant from the grave, as little children.
A lot of grandparents get it, but I think most are like me. They are grateful for what they cannot explain. It is a matter of heart, not instinct.
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