Windows May Not Be All They're Cracked Up To Be

There is no window in the office I share with Valarie.  We're getting our updates from those who come through: "It's sleeting;"  "It's snowing now;"  "Roads are slick;"  "Winds are picking up."  Both our husbands have called, "What's the plan if they let school out?"   "You might want to warm up the car before you leave for lunch - no, I'll just come get you."  A co-worker down the street just told me someone fishtailed by the courthouse.  Photos and warnings from local friends are popping up by the second on Facebook and it does look dangerous.  

"But when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid.
     He began to sink.
          He cried out, “Lord! Save me!”
               Matthew 14:30
Slick - slippery - messy - wet - cold - icy - gray - dangerous, but we'd never know it in this heated, quiet coccoon of an office. We have an extra heater going and it's pretty much business as usual, except that we've heard what's out there.  We're like personnel on a submarine - hearing blips, but not seeing it for ourselves and there are two ways to look at our situation:

First, we're missing out on seeing the sleet and snow fall, and that's tough on me because I'm a decisive weather junkie.  I like to see sun shining brightly, rain raining down hard, and snow blowing in gusts.  Overcast, gray days that can't make up their minds what to do are my least favorite. I've walked down the hall to look out the window a couple of times just to enjoy the sight of sleet blowing across rooftops and roads, but when I get back to work, that scene slips out of mind.

Which brings up the second way to see our submarine situation. We're getting along just fine, accomplishing what we need to accomplish and forgetting the threats of the outside world.  Knowing me, a window would distract (weather's too pretty or too bad, etc.) and keep me guessing at which way today (and tomorrow) might go. The way things are, we'll work til quittin' time then deal with what's left of it instead of all the what ifs beforehand. 

"Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the author of faith. He also makes it perfect. He paid no attention to the shame of the cross. He suffered there because of the joy He was looking forward to. Then He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2

Scripture after scripture tells us to keep our eyes on Jesus and our spiritual ears sensitive to His Voice.  Speculating about waves of potential future problems only distracts us from what He calls us to do today, right now, this minute.  The Apostles counted the cost for the moment, not necessarily for their lifetimes or they might not have walked away from paying jobs.  When Gabriel announced God's plan to Mary, she allowed herself to speculate on how the immediate problem of pregnancy would be solved, not on the million of other potential worry points.

Windows are nice, but they may not be all they're cracked up to be if what we see through them brings more anxiety than joy.  Maybe this explains why God allows us only small windows when it comes to the future but large, day-sized windows as a rule. 

"Don’t worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him. Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can never be completely understood." 
Philippians 4:6-7




 

Tuesday, November 16, 2010 - TMI

     When Tom and I first knew God was calling us to relocate from Alabama to Arkansas, we looked for ways to help Nick give Arkansas a chance. We learned during our first trip to "the Natural State" that 14-year-olds can get learner's permits to drive -- on real streets -- to real places. And, to prove that people over a certain age shouldn't have children, we told Nick the news on our return to Alabama. His attitude toward Arkansas changed immediately and drastically. It's funny how the brain-fog cleared the second we saw his over-enthusiastic response to his future. We immediately started back-peddling hard and fast. As the song says, "I can see clearly now the rain is gone." Now we're searching for  exception clauses to this unnatural idea of children behind the wheels of anything other than go-karts. 
     We forgot what we learned in seminary counseling classes: avoid making important decisions when in a state of anger, frustration, discouragement, depression or, in our case, desperation. A life change clouded our judgement and we took a human route to "make it all better" for our child. It's a shortcut we regret and hope Nick will forget. 
      God our Father and Wise Counselor never takes shortcuts or makes short-term decisions. Circumstances and emotions don't affect His goal of leading us to fulfill our eternal destinies. Sarah Young says in today's "Jesus Calling" entry that God places a "protective fog" over the future to teach us to focus on the One walking with us. We don't have to strain to see God through the rain or wait until the clouds clear. He's not dimmed by fog or smog. No shining view can eclipse Him and no mountain can hide Him. He's here with us as He promised: beside, before, behind, in our hearts, in our minds, our Firm Foundation underneath, and our Banner of Love overhead. We weren't designed to handle too much information. God created us to know and love Him, trusting Him to reveal the right amount of information at the right time. With God holding my right hand now and the promise that one day I'll see him face to Face, "the future's so bright, I've gotta wear shades."


Abba, open my eyes to Your constant Presence and wake my spiritual hands to feel Your firm grasp. Noisy circumstances and sloppy weather can't tear You from my side or hinder Your work in me. Lord, You're my all-weather Guide. You've prepared a destiny for me that excites me and fills me with wonder. Keep me from taking shortcuts like Sarah and Abraham with Hagaar or Rachel and Jacob with Isaac. Your timing is best. Keep me contentedly busy getting fully acquainted with You as we walk together. I don't want to miss a thing but I only want to know what You want me to know.


In the name of Jesus who, knowing all things, lived in step with You, Father-God


"Yet I still belong to You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny." Psalm 73:23-24 NLT


"Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory." Psalm 73:23-24 NIV


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
"Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. all that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me completely." 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT


"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 13:12 NIV