I recently went bird-watching with a friend who is passionate about it. I brought an old set of binoculars, but he handed me a high-powered set with a special focus setting. When I looked through them, I noticed something remarkable: the main subject stayed crisp and clear, while the surrounding area blurred slightly, drawing all my attention to the bird itself.
Ordinary birds—simple sparrows and robins—transformed in the viewfinder. I could see every texture of their feathers, the subtle grays and golds woven in, details I’d never noticed before.
But as beautiful as it was, after a while, I grew tired from the intense focus. Straining to see everything up close was exhausting. So I paused, lowered the binoculars, and simply let myself be present. I just stood there—listening, watching, waiting, aware.
Fall had stripped much of the foliage, leaving the trees bare, yet in that simplicity I found a quiet beauty. Without the binoculars, things appeared whole and complete just as they were.
Sometimes, we work so hard to see the extraordinary in life, zooming in, analyzing every detail, trying to capture something special. But when we pause, put down our “binoculars,” and simply stand present in the moment, we find that the beauty around us is enough. We can let go. Even in a season of fall, where things appear stripped and exposed, there is a fullness and peace—a wholeness we can appreciate with bare eyes.
As we move through this season of Advent, may we remember to pause, to let go, and to be fully present. Sometimes, the most profound beauty is found in the simplicity of things as they are. It is a place where we can experience radical acceptance and ready ourselves to invite the peace of Christ.
Prayer: May I be in this very moment, O God. May I let go and be still. May I find the simplicity of things as they are. May I invite the peace of Christ.
Maryanne Elliott leads a data-driven talent strategy company and is dedicated to developing and shaping leadership in others. She also teaches in the Master of Science in Human Resources and Organizational Development program at the University of Louisville. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and practicing yoga.