The First Rule

Sunday, I was driving back from visiting family, and I decided to film an experimental driving video. I placed the camera in the mount on the dashboard, and I pressed the power button and what I thought was the record button. I drove from one location to another thinking I was filming the whole drive only to arrive at home to find I had pressed the wrong button. The first rule of filming a video? Press the right button.

It was still a good learning experience because it reminded me to do a few things. First, just go ahead and try the thing you’ve been wanting to try. Stop putting it off for the “right time” to arrive. Second, it reminded me to double check that my equipment is operating properly in the future. Third, it taught me I can waste a golden opportunity if I’m not careful.

I’m disappointed I didn’t get the video recorded, but I’m glad for what I learned. My plan had been to check the angle on the camera mount so it’s possible I would have just filmed sky, but I won’t know until I try it. I just decided to grab my camera that morning to experiment so at least I attempted to film the drive. My mistake was in not slowing down to set it up properly and be certain it was filming. I’m certain it won’t be the last time it happens to me, but hopefully, this will cure me of it happening when I’m filming something more difficult to replicate.

It’s great to be spontaneous and try new things, but there’s nothing wrong with doing a little bit of planning and equipment checking even when you’re being spontaneous. When you decide to try something new, it’s okay to take a few extra steps to be sure it’s going to go the way you want. If it isn’t perfect, first, look for the things you did right, and then figure out what needs to be changed.

Personally, I had a good laugh at myself for thinking I was filming the whole drive only to arrive with a camera I had powered down and no video. I hope to do some recording later this week so I’ll try it again another day. This time, I know what to double-check when I head out. We all start somewhere and learn a “first rule” the hard way. Don’t let it get you down. Odds are you won’t repeat the same mistake again because you’ll remember the original lesson. Once you’ve learned something, you know more now than you did before. Now go learn some more “first rules.”

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Inspirational Verse for the Day:

I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel. (Psalm 32:8, CSB)