Last Sunday afternoon, right after the second service, I got in my car and drove down to the Esalen conference center in Big Sur. My purpose was to participate in a workshop called Painting the Inner and Outer Landscape. The workshop was taught by Adam Wolpert, a master painter who is also a gifted teacher and group facilitator. This was the fourth time I’ve attended the workshop over the last two years. Some folks express surprise that I keep going to the same workshop, but the truth is that the workshop is proof of the old saying that you can’t step into the same river twice. The structure is the basically the same, the technical instruction covers the same points, but the landscape—both inner and outer—is always changing, so each workshop holds a different experience. Each workshop is transformative for me in my journey as an artist and in my life-journey. Each workshop brings at least one learning that shifts my understanding of my art, my faith and my life.
The paradigm-shifting learning came early in the workshop this time—during the first technical instruction session—when Adam pointed out the difference between field of vision and field of focus. He had us hold our hands as far out to the sides as possible, then move them slowly forward. He instructed us to notice when we became aware of our hands—when they became present in our peripheral vision. The space between our hands at this point is our field of vision. Then he asked us to notice when we could focus clearly on both thumbs at the same time. This space is our field of focus. Try it with me. Give yourselves some room so you don’t clothesline your neighbor. Arms out to the side, then move your hands slowly forward until you can sense your hands. This space is your field of vision. Now move your hands slowly forward, keeping your eyes straight ahead and turning your thumbs up. Stop when you can see both thumbs clearly without moving your eyes. This space is your field of focus. Quite a difference! The field of focus is only about 10 or 15% of our field of vision. Our field of focus—the part we’re able to see most clearly—is only 10 or 15% of all that we can see. This has important implications for painting and perhaps even more critical implications for the way we live our lives. I know from my own struggles to capture what I see in a landscape how difficult it is to find and keep my focus. My eyes and my brush wander to all the complexities of the world around me, and I can easily lose my place in my work. I literally lose sight of whatever it was that first drew me to paint a particular view or detail. The same thing can also happen in the rest of my life and work. Bring me an idea about something good that needs to be done or experienced, and I’ll demonstrate how quickly my attention can move from my focus.
I think Simon and Andrew, James and John may have understood only too well about being distracted by the opportunities for goodness that surround us all.
The Gospel according to Mark is filled with stories that are similar to the portion we’ve just heard. In today’s gospel, Jesus cures Simon’s mother-in-law of some malady, and the whole city converges on the house. People come to Jesus asking for healing, and he heals them. The next morning, Jesus is nowhere to be seen. The disciples finally find him alone at prayer. They urge him to return to the crowds. They know good work is being done, and they’re intent on doing even more of it in this place that clearly has so much need. I can imagine them wanting to set up permanent healing stations, similar to the little houses Simon wanted to build for Jesus, Moses and Elijah on the day of the Transfiguration. I can imagine them wanting a permanent base of operations, an unchanging center for good things happening in the name of God. Simon and Andrew, James and John know a good thing when they see it, and they want to keep it that way.
But Jesus has a different plan. It doesn’t matter that good work is being done. His purpose is not simply to continue the healing in the place which has welcomed him. His purpose—his focus—is to proclaim the Good News of God’s love throughout the land.
At our Annual Meeting two weeks ago, our treasurer Paul Fait was asked about plans for fund-raising for the church. He spoke of the various fund-raising activities that support some of our ministries and then reminded us all that fund-raising is not our primary focus. We are not simply an organization that does good works. We are a church, and our primary purpose is to share with others the Good News that others have shared with us—to reconcile the world to God through Christ. Our primary purpose as a faith community is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. We do that through prayer and worship, proclamation of the Gospel of God’s grace and love for all people, and promotion of justice, peace and love throughout the world.
Sometimes we live into that mission by doing things like the mission trip Anna and Viv went on last summer. Sometimes we do it by supporting our outreach programs. Sometimes we do it by giving of our time, talent and treasure to support the overall ministry of the Church. Sometimes we do those things, but every day we are called to live into that mission by doing our best to live into our baptismal covenant. That’s not always easy. In fact, I can’t imagine there’s been a day in my life when I’ve been able to keep focused on those promises—especially those last three: proclaiming by word and example the Good News of Christ; seeking and serving Christ in all persons, loving my neighbor as myself; striving for justice and peace among all people, and respecting the dignity of every human being. I get tangled up in getting things done, and I forget that keeping my focus on those promises brings the whole picture into clarity in a way that doesn’t otherwise happen.
Our life in this church gives me many cues for being clear about my focus as an individual and about our focus as a faith community. I’m grateful for the new learning about focus that Adam has given me, just as I appreciate the learning I find as we all work together to bring ourselves and the world a little closer to the reign of God. I’m grateful for the reminder that comes each time we renew our baptismal covenant, saying “I will, with God’s help.” Most of all, I’m grateful that God’s grace is truly with us, helping each one of us find the focus for our lives and ministries and supporting us as we grow in faith.
Thanks be to God.