Photographs: How wide is too wide of a lens?

You are already being verbally dragged into the family car by your parents, what else could go wrong? The moment that thought crosses your mind, your mom turns and looks you in the eyes. No matter which way you move, you can't escape her gaze. Take a picture. At this moment, you know what is coming. "Just force a smile" she says. "We are just going to make sure your grandmother is stocked up on groceries this week." You know that is code for "We will be there a few hours, but please just smile for your grandmother."

Ten years later you are riding in the new family car. This time you were ready. You had everything ready to go. Your emotions, your attire and most of all, your smile. As you arrive to the site of the funeral you remember each mental snapshot, but you remember one in particular. This mental picture wasn't the brightest, but it spoke the loudest. You having lived the picture know the surrounding area of the photo. Going to grandmother's was a dull experience to begin with but you always enjoyed hearing her stories whether or not you wanted to admit it. Then, you frowned but now you look back and smile. Take a picture. This time, with the lens wide open. The dark setting of the funeral home is now offset by your vibrant smile formed by looking at the picture.

If a third party were to view both mental photos in a large framed picture, they may not understand the scenario. Narrowing the lens isn't always the best way to fine tune a situation. In the first picture, all you see is a disappointed child. The scenario looks sad. Combined with the second picture, however, the lens in opened up. Everything makes sense. A once small child is now grown and appreciating the world around them. In the reading, it is made clear that pictures aren't always supposed to capture happy times, but instead, should be used to capture reality. No one wants to have a blindfold on at all times. No one wants to live a fake life. The pictures on the wall may say "happy family" when the lives around the picture are all about a father losing a job or a mother fighting sickness. In relation to the story above, it isn't always a bad thing to capture reality. We as people can look back and learn, appreciate and respect what we have in life.

This is CJ Perkins, and I approve this publishing.