Place: Part III– The Art and Practice of Focus

Step Up to the Lens

In a sense, relationship is the only lens we have for seeing the world, for taking in stories and for telling them. We are in relationship to other. To strengthen our capacity for seeing, really seeing, is to strengthening our capacity for relationship.

One way to strengthen seeing, especially seeing Place, is to learn the art and practice of focus. Once something is in focus, our powers of observation are rewarded. We can “see” the details of the object of our interest. The ability to embrace and then share the story of our experience is much of what gives meaning to life. We focus our built-in power of observation and once we have it in focus, it’s as though we can step aside from the lens and let others find the wonder of what we have seen. Like a practiced stargazer, we fine tune the telescope, revealing celestial wonder and ask the novice to step up to the lens to see for themselves what has held us in awe. Anyone can put their eye to the telescope, but the trained stargazer knows how to focus the lens. It's an art.

In the practice of focus, to be “in the moment” is a base you have to tag, like in baseball. To make a home-run count, you can’t miss tagging 1st base. In the practice of focus you can’t miss being present. It’s a base that must be tagged.

The five senses is a good first base in immersing ourselves in the practice of presence. Our senses are the avenues though which delight and joy come to us and are the magic in which memories seal themselves to our archives. Science has born out that the five senses, especially smell, are like superglue binding themselves to memory. According to an article on livescience.com titled, “Brain’s Link Between Sounds, Smells and Memory Revealed” by Rachael Rettner, “The same part of the brain that’s in charge of processing our senses is also responsible, at least in part for storing emotional memories.”

The experience of having a flash of nostalgia triggered by smell is a familiar one. If we capitalize on this, and purpose to awaken our senses, that lasting imprint will help us be present and bring focus.

Digging into the history of Place is another tool to help strengthen focus. Just like getting to know someone we care about, we want to know more, how they’ve come to be who they are. So with place, growing to know the background, ancestors and customs of Place gives context and meaning.

John Graves book Good Bye to a River is an outstanding example of digging in to the roots of Place. As he traveled down the Brazos River he dug deep into the character of Place and let the story be told from a perception grounded in a focused look at the history and ancestors of that area.

Characteristics such as boundaries, neighboring areas, migrations and other movements are all identifying markers that enrich our understanding and endear Place to us. Engaging in the discovery of all of these makes us better qualified at the lens of focus and more able to help others share in the wonder we see.

What Place would you like to know more fully?

Writing Prompt for the Week: Smells that Brings Nostalgia