Saved by the lens filter + lens cap

By, Jerome on Friday - January 22, 2010

It was late in the night, we just pulled in to the driveway from a long drive from Pasadena. I finished helping Mechelle get Sophia out of her car seat and into bed and ready to unload the car.  Earlier in the day before we left, I was busy taking pictures of Sophia around the neighbors' yard since they had some cute decorations out.  I'll admit, when I was done taking pictures, I was lazy in putting my camera away. I placed it at the top of the pile in the back of the car, resting on the camera bag. 

Now that we were home, I was anxious quickly unload everything from the back of the car so I could get into bed and get some much needed sleep and rest.  Not even thinking, I hastely lifted the trunk door and before I could react, my prized camera falls out like a torpedo and makes a big splat (face first) right on the pavement in front of my feet.  I could just hear the shattering of glass inside.  To make matters worse, I had the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens on (code named "The Tank" - 'cause it's so heavy).  To think that this lens was possibly broken was imaginable.  I was in a panic and I was about to cry.

I quickly picked up the camera to assess the damage.  After a close examination, it appears the lens cap and lens filter absorbed most of the shock of the fall and prevented any damage to the lens.  Unscrewing the shattered lens filter, I took some shots to make sure everything was operating properly: auto focus + zooming.  Whew, and everything was okay.  Thanks to the sacrifice of a lens cap and lens filter, disaster was averted.  Therefore, next time (just like my Dad used to say) "... Don't be lazy, always put it back where it belongs."
 

After seeing what a relief it was that I wouldn't have to pay for repairs (or worse, have to tell the Mrs. that something's broken) I realized how temporal and fleeting our possessions are.  We tend to take pride and sometimes reliance in our possessions. Nevertheless, it's just "stuff" - which gets scratched, gets old, and eventually gets replaced with the next years' model. 

From an eternal perspective, I realized this experience was another shining example of God teaching me what Jesus had taught in Matthew 6:19–21.  "Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."

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