Dressed to the nines with the smell of sizzling steak and the sounds of classical music filling the air, families, business executives and hopeful couples claim their tables at their favorite restaurant. Yet amid all the finery and good intentions, devices soon claim their full attention as no one looks up to make eye contact or connect on a meaningful level. Family night becomes an exercise in futility and seeds of new love are hijacked by a screen before they can germinate. Although I am deeply disturbed by what I witness, am I so different?
How many precious things have I missed by not looking up? I remember a particular sunset cruise in Naples where I struggled with photo settings, hoping for a perfect shot. But as the sun sank below a crimson horizon, I missed the moment when a playful dolphin began leaping by the boat. Why? Because my eyes were fixed on other things. Each morning, I see distracted students crossing busy streets--unaware of the dangerous drivers who haven't yet had their caffeine fix. Looking up requires intention. When Jesus healed the man's blindness, He asked him to play an active role by looking up repeatedly. How often do we walk through life checking boxes without locking eyes with the hurting sea of humanity?
Have you ever heard the story of the circus elephant who kept going around the same pole because he never looked to see that the chain had been broken? We miss the provision that is just ahead because our eyes have grown accustomed to the lack. Remember the ram caught in the thicket that Abraham would have missed if he hadn't looked up? Or what if Elisha had been distracted in that pivotal moment when Elijah was taken up to Heaven? His life would have taken a different trajectory with no double portion allotted to him. The paralyzed man would have returned home in the same condition if his friends had kept their options limited to the front door. Instead, in a moment of absolute desperation, they looked up and decided to tear off the roof, bypassing the crowd, to connect with Jesus.
This April, with the reality of The Resurrection fresh in our hearts and The Ascension of Christ just ahead, let's take a moment to look up; when we do this, we can soar to new heights. However, when we look down, we minimize our potential and underestimate the power of God. When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, she was so consumed by grief (as she bent down and peered into the tomb) that she failed to recognize the identity of THE MIRACLE standing before her. During your storm, don't hide--Look up and see that you are not alone! The full radiance of the sun is no less available just because it is obscured by temporary weather conditions. Look up with patience and great expectation. Don't miss another monumental moment by being anything less than fully present!
Psalms 121:1 (KJV)
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
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