via Vivid
On days like today, I like to imagine I’m back in Breckenridge, Colorado. It’s August and we’ve just arrived. My first look up and out at the majesty of the mountains motivates me to try to capture the image. However, raising my camera, I was accosted by something much closer to where I actually stood. The beauty arrayed in the vivid colors of this flower pot became the metaphor for my whole life.
We do this don’t we? We look way out there in the distance of life, planning our future, dreaming of what may come, or when we might reach a desired destination. All the while life is happening all around us, bright, graphic, authentic, detailed, and picturesque. We miss it if we don’t refocus our lens, and capture the now, instead of the distant “when.”
I remember a phrase I heard frequently growing up, “He’s so heavenly minded, he’s of no earthly good.” It’s an easy trap, and I’ve been it’s victim all too often I fear. Just as in our earthly lives we plan and prod along on a path to something desirable, at times it seems our spiritual lives are so caught up in “heaven someday soon” that living in the light and beauty of God’s presence right here, right now is totally out of focus. The grass may indeed be greener over there, but what God want’s us to see in this moment, is the scintillating glow of the flower pot in front of us.
The very reason the disciples missed so much of the message Jesus tried to help them with was that their focus continually was on His establishment of an earthly kingdom. They kept asking, “is it now?” They fought over who would be the greatest in the Master’s court. All the while, they missed the elegant and eloquent display of grandeur that is the glory of God in Christ. In fact except that Jesus forced them to see it, they would have missed it completely. So, Jesus arranges a road-trip up the high mountain where He is transfigured before them. His face was shining like the sun. His clothes were as translucent as light. They saw him carrying on a dialogue with Moses and Elijah. They would have missed it completely, if Jesus hadn’t insisted that they come. [Matthew 17:1-13]
Looking out my office window as I write these words, the sky is overcast, giving a dull and dreary outlook for a Sunday morning. Closer still in my vision is my study Bible, with florescent tabs sticking out. The vivid contrast of the bright tabs against the darkened hazy sky helps me focus. I will not be forever bound to this office, looking out into a world filled with darkness. One day I will rest in the heavenly places as a child of the King. Until then, my job is to continue writing, and telling of God’s wonderful grace, and experience that grace myself every single day. My job is to do what I can right here, right now, to bring God great glory with what is left of my time here on earth. I don’t want to miss the flower pot here simply because I’m so caught up with how majestic and glorious it will be there.
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. ~ Matthew 5:16
As I was saying... 