Vol. 17 No. 18 May 4, 2015
When I am sitting at my desk in my office, if I turn my chair to face the window, because the window is above my eye level, I can the tops of several trees, the top of a utility pole, part of the sky, and part of a roof line of one of the homes in our neighborhood. If I stand I can see not only the roof of the house, but the backyard as well. If I stand not only can I see the top of the trees, but I can see the entire shape of the trees, the pavilion and the playground as well. If I stand not only can I see part of the sky, if I stand I can see the whole expanse of the sky.
When I am sitting in my living room in our home and I look out the two glass doors and the glass above the door I can see a piece of the sky, part of a patio chair, one small tree in the courtyard, and the back of some of the other condos in our complex. When I move from my chair, walk to the door, open it and step out on the patio, plants on our patio, and two chairs, a patio umbrella, and I can see the entire courtyard, and the entire eastern sky.
When I look at the world from my normal perspective my vision is limited. When I see natural disasters my limited perspective causes me shake my head in disbelief and ask, “Why Lord?” When I see the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, my limited perspective leads me to question the fairness of the Lord. When I see injustice and abuse of power my limited understanding tempts me to assume that the Lord loves some more than others. When I see pain and suffering my limited imagination does not allow me to comprehend how anything good can come from what I see.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:9-12, NIV)
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. (2 Kings 6:16-18, NIV)
Father, I long for the day when I will see things more clearly than I see now. I long for a level of maturity that will allow me to understand things that are too grand for me to understand today. I long for a degree of compassion that will allow me to feel more love and concern that I now possess. I long for eyes to see what You see. Until I can see more clearly, understand things that are too grand for me, and find greater compassion, Father, I trust You to see what I cannot see, know what I cannot know, and do what I cannot do.
Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2015. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.