It was just me and three-year-old Charlie for the afternoon, so I decided that he needed some playtime on the climbers and slides at Carl’s Jr. before heading to my house after his morning at pre-school. While Charlie played, I waited for our lunch to be served. In the crowded play area, I had managed to find two seats alongside the narrow table that bordered the window. With chicken nuggets and french fries arriving, I called Charlie over to the table, and after telling Jesus thank you for the food He had given, we both began eating. Charlie was animated though, smiling, and delighted at whatever he was watching. I was curious because all I could see was a solid white backing with colors only subtly showing through from the front side of the oversized poster advertising Carl’s latest promotional sale items. It was a “wall” in front of me, even though it was made of paper, with nothing in view to capture my interest. Charlie though was obviously absorbed with the “whatever” and I bent over to look at things from his perspective – and the world in front of me came alive! Cars! Lots of them! The fascination that captures Charlie whatever their size! And these cars were creating all sorts of traffic on the street, coming, going, stopping, busses, trucks, motorcycles.......... And more closely in front of him was the line of cars in the Carl’s Jr. drive through. Wow! Fun for a three-year-old who was looking through a much different window than I was.
Windows and mirrors. I keep growing in my understanding of them. I can look in a mirror and see myself, my own needs, my own feelings and emotions, my own perspective, self-thinking, and distortions, or I can look through the window that allows me to see God – His presence, His love, His grace, His provision, His ways of responding to life. The realities that can cause a self-focus are still there, but they are only “framing” the window because what I most want is to see God in the midst of the reality. Sometimes though, even when my want-to is to see God, my view is blocked. The reality is too harsh, too condemning, too confusing, too overwhelming, too......................... And my heart cries out into the seeming emptiness of the darkness.
Two of my grandchildren flew out by themselves to spend two weeks with Grandma and Papa and the sun, surf, and magical world of southern California. Evan was more than a big brother to Emily. He was her friend. He showed that in a lot of ways with his presence, his care, his patience – no, he wasn’t “perfect,” but he sure did a good job. He played with her and sometimes even “explained” things to her. And yet too, he allowed her to be who she was. He had a heart for her. We all need a friend who has “a heart” for us. And that friend needs too to have a heart for God. Because when I am in that place of crying out into the seeming emptiness of the darkness, I need a friend with a heart for me and a heart for God who can lovingly help me see through the darkness. Someone who will help me take the wall down. Someone who will un-block my view so I can see my God and what He has for me in the midst of the reality. But, I need too, to be willing to grab my friend’s hand and her heart and allow her to do that.
– Bev
(Related Bible reading: Philippians 2:1-4)
Windows and mirrors. I keep growing in my understanding of them. I can look in a mirror and see myself, my own needs, my own feelings and emotions, my own perspective, self-thinking, and distortions, or I can look through the window that allows me to see God – His presence, His love, His grace, His provision, His ways of responding to life. The realities that can cause a self-focus are still there, but they are only “framing” the window because what I most want is to see God in the midst of the reality. Sometimes though, even when my want-to is to see God, my view is blocked. The reality is too harsh, too condemning, too confusing, too overwhelming, too......................... And my heart cries out into the seeming emptiness of the darkness.
Two of my grandchildren flew out by themselves to spend two weeks with Grandma and Papa and the sun, surf, and magical world of southern California. Evan was more than a big brother to Emily. He was her friend. He showed that in a lot of ways with his presence, his care, his patience – no, he wasn’t “perfect,” but he sure did a good job. He played with her and sometimes even “explained” things to her. And yet too, he allowed her to be who she was. He had a heart for her. We all need a friend who has “a heart” for us. And that friend needs too to have a heart for God. Because when I am in that place of crying out into the seeming emptiness of the darkness, I need a friend with a heart for me and a heart for God who can lovingly help me see through the darkness. Someone who will help me take the wall down. Someone who will un-block my view so I can see my God and what He has for me in the midst of the reality. But, I need too, to be willing to grab my friend’s hand and her heart and allow her to do that.
– Bev
(Related Bible reading: Philippians 2:1-4)
