A Fresh Focus

 Have you ever noticed that when you are looking intently at something, people tend to stop and look, even though they don’t know what they are looking at? Yesterday there was a large bird perched on a high branch near our house and I had my binoculars out trying to decide if it was an eagle or osprey. Several passersby noted my focus and looked in the same direction. After looking at it for so long and trying to focus, my eyes got worn out and began to glaze over. I had to stop and focus on something else so they could rest.

Perhaps the COVID 19 pandemic has your focus. You can't quite understand or determine what is happening from one day to the next and your gaze into an unknown future has you and your family a little on edge. The kids might be trying to see what you are looking at and since you can’t even identify it, everyone becomes anxious. All the questions of what is to come of the economy, the health of our loved ones and more, can be a lot. Maybe it's time to stop staring at it and look at something we know.

In the first century, Paul was dealing with people who often stared at what they didn’t understand and became confused about how they were to follow the way of Jesus. There was a long heritage of wandering and a longer list of rules that identified them. They lived in a time of heinous religious persecution, fear and mandatory isolation for their protection. Like us, they just didn’t know what to do with all that was happening around them and it had their complete focus until their eyes began to glaze over. In 2 Corinthians 3 Paul states that the fog lifts when we turn to the Lord, receive His freedom from all the fear and "are transformed into His likeness."  That is why we don't lose heart (2 Corinthians 4).  Our focus has to move to the Spirit of God who is using everything we encounter to transform us into His likeness.

Wow! Can you imagine if we all just looked to God long enough for others to begin looking there, too? Soon everyone around us would be trying to see Him! Our families and friends and coworkers would feel less fear and isolation and instead experience the joy of transformation that God desires for us. Everything would change as the Spirit teaches us that there is purpose in the pain and, "Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 

Eternal glory sounds like looking at something farther away than the osprey, which will wear us out, but eternal glory isn’t just pearly gates and death isn’t the only way out of this mess. Eternity is yesterday, today and tomorrow and is given so we can live, love, grow, cry, laugh and enjoy one another while experiencing God. In this cycle of eternity, change is inevitable and an intentional part of God’s plan. High tide and low. Sunrise and sunset. Young to old. Change is really normal and not to be feared. It becomes light and momentary when we remember that it is here to transform us into His likeness and is part of God’s plan.

How can you see COVID 19 as light and momentary? Change what you are looking at. We fix our eyes NOT on what is seen, (sickness, quarantine, social isolation, unemployment, loneliness, fear, discouragement – or a large unidentified raptor, because all of that will wear us out), but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17). The unseen things are the constant presence of God’s Spirit reshaping us; His love transforming our hearts and attitudes; His wisdom helping us discern next steps. His strength empowering us to navigate all of this. Transformation will come when we focus on Him.

So, where will you focus? The pandemic or the Potter? The disease or the Divine? The finances or the Friend? The economy or Eternal glory? Your loneliness or your LORD? One will make your eyes glaze over and the other will help you see God. And remember, others will be looking to see what captures your gaze. 

...Inwardly we are being renewed, day by day.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory 

that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes, not on what is seen but on what is unseen. 

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 

1 Corinthians 4:16-17

Fresh Eyes On Cac Rona

If you are like me, you may have stopped listening to the news or reading the latest reports about COVID-19. It is all too difficult to assimilate into my mind. This is my first pandemic, so I have no real experience digesting all that I hear so after a bit, I just tune it out. HOWEVER... the report from these two professionals, both age 3.5, caught my attention. Here is what I learned from their report on the reliable news source, Facebook.

My nephew Lincoln, in this picture, is tired of quarantine and is firmly commanding, "Get out of here, Rona!" Reading between the lines, I understood clearly that the best path to take in this pandemic is to take authority. The sickness, isolation, loneliness, social distancing and all the struggles that come with the virus are real and we can't really control those things, but we would do well to take authority over the fear that comes with it. Of course, a healthy respect should keep us safer, but fear will leave us paralyzed. Here's how Lincoln finds ways to not be overwhelmed with fear. He laughs and plays with his amazing big brothers, who take the time for him. He leans into the parents who love him... and does the occasional Facebook post to entertain his Auntie.

My little friend, Zella, in this post is telling her mom,  "Cacrona is a human and if we go to his house he will tell us that it is okay to have our friends come over and play." Although her intel is questionable, she is spot on with her strong desire to make sure that life goes on, even if not as she is hoping. Her mother is quick to respond and tell her that Corona is a virus and not a person. I immediately considered how easy it is to see this pandemic as having authority over us telling us what we can and cannot do, but Zella's mom is correct. It is just a virus and we still get to make the decision on how we are to live. Of course there are always limitation with any sickness. But we still determine our reactions and behaviors. Since pandemics occur every 100 years or so, this is likely our only opportunity to experience one. We must not allow it to take control of all things fun, but use it to create all sorts of new fun. That's what happens at Zella's house. Dance parties, room-sized forts, movies and gymnastics with her siblings. Of course she misses her friends, but she has found ways to conquer that pain and laugh her way through it all.

Don't waste this once in a lifetime pandemic by giving it authority over your thoughts. Don't fear it as an uninvited intruder taking away your freedom, your laughter and your fun. You can be sad or mad or filled with questions, but don't let negative feelings find a lot to build their house upon. Let them come and let them go, but give them no authority over your life. Find the good every day. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to see the things we haven't, do the things we couldn't and hear the things we wouldn't have in our pre-pandemic lives.

Hold fast to the truth that no event can ever change.... God loves you and is always with you. Rona nor Cacrona have any authority over that! So live, love and laugh your way through it when you can... and when you can't, find an adorable child to lift your spirits!

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, 

for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning;

 great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

What Are You Looking For?

Can you even imagine the horror of watching a loved one having nails driven through His hands and feet... then, suspended on that wooden cross, having to press into the pain of those nails in order to fill His lungs? Watching helplessly, I imagine so many dreams of what could have been died, one by one. This was the end of hope for the big "win" for Jesus and His followers so closure began when the spear in His side confirmed that it was truly finished. Jesus said it Himself.

No wonder His friends didn't recognize Jesus when He appeared to them after He arose from the grave. They were looking for a corpse, not a living, breathing, eating, talking Jesus! When the angel asked the women who went to the tomb to prepare Jesus body, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" they must have been really perplexed. They weren't looking for a living Jesus because they saw Him die. Likewise, when Jesus walked with two of His followers on the road to Emmaus, they didn't recognize Him because they were overwrought with all they had seen and heard about the crucifixion of their good Teacher.

As I listen to the Easter message this year I wondered how often we miss seeing life because we have witnessed death, so that's what we are looking for. We have experienced a slow, painful death in our marriage or other relationships, so we cannot see the life that Jesus wants to infuse into our connections with others. If you believe that Jesus is alive and death has no victory, why settle for death in your relationships. Jesus came that we might have a full and meaningful life. Jesus came to show us how to love. Jesus taught us that loving God and others is the core of following Him, so why not live like we believe that?

Moving forward in the coming days and weeks, I encourage you to stop looking for death. That is kind of like tripping over something that is behind you, which is pretty ridiculous. Start looking to the future of HOPE that Jesus provided with His life, death and resurrection. If you have experienced death in your marriage or other relationships, stop looking for the corpse in the tomb and start looking for the life that He wants to bring you.  Jesus' very life was about loving and giving, regardless of merit. Perhaps you need to be reminded of that so you can find the new life, new hope and new love that reflects a living Redeemer, not a corpse in a tomb.

Holding You Close

During these difficult times, I just really want to remind you that you have a Father who gathers you in His arms and carries you close to His heart. Isn't that a beautiful, comforting truth? I had a day last week when fear kept trying to seep into my mind and this is the verse God gave me in the middle of the night.

As we somewhat blindly meander through Holy Week - commemorating the last week before the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, I recall His last days with the disciples. He told these friends that He would be leaving them, but that in His absence, they would receive His Spirit. They were to sit tight, pray and wait for the power of God to come upon them. I suppose they were also anxious 2000 years ago when they were forced to shelter together, risk their lives each time they went out for provisions, and simply wait. But, they had seen Jesus. They knew Jesus. They believed He was God in the flesh. And that made all the difference.

No matter what you are feeling from moment to moment, remember that you are you are never outside of the sight-line of God. He hears and He knows what your life looks and feels like right now. He knew, when He made you that you would someday be living through these crazy times. And I have no doubt that He has appropriately equipped you with what you need... which primarily is His Spirit... to get through every single day of it.

Let me just leave you with this thought... A great tragedy occurred on what we call Good Friday. Nothing about it seemed good to those who loved and followed Jesus. This side of the resurrection, however, we know that death did not win and Jesus is who He claimed to be and that His Spirit did, in fact, come to give the power needed to endure all the trials that come our way. As you celebrate Resurrection Sunday in a manner you never have before, embrace the truth that you have a Good Shepherd who carries you close to His heart and abides within your heart giving you all the power you need to face the days ahead. Rest in His arms, feed in His pasture and allow Him to direct your path.

For Such A Time As This

As Palm Sunday approaches, in a time that feels so strange, I can't help but think of the similarities between our situation and the days experienced by Jesus and his followers almost 2000 years ago. Everything changed in a very short amount of time. At this point, Jesus was a rock star among men. He was sought after, clung to, listened to and heralded as the King of the Jews. His popularity was at an all-time high. People ran into the streets to greet Him and show honor and respect. He had come for such a time as this. Truly, His time had come... just not in the way His followers imagined.

In their mind, this was the time to strike; to change the world; to take back Jerusalem from Rome; to establish Jesus' Kingdom on earth; to celebrate a new day. Their minds could only imagine a worldly kingdom where the king sits on a throne, has a militant army and people bowing low to give honor to the King of Kings. They were born for such a time as this and they would be by His side in this kingdom they imagined. But, things didn't measure up to their expectations.

Similarly, today our plans have drastically changed. Without our consent.  We saw a future of vacations, March Madness, spring sports, graduation open houses,egg hunts and sweet little Easter outfits. Instead we have received family togetherness, p.j.s all day long, ways to survive without grocery items needed for a particular recipe, rationing toilet paper, and how to reach out and check on each other more regularly. Perhaps we were made for such a time as this.

I don't mean to compare our sacrifice of our normal brand of toilet paper to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. I only want to point out the blessing that come from sacrifice. All this time with your kids can be used to make memories they will never ever forget. Make sure those memories include getting out of your routine occasionally, laughing hysterically,  learning new things to cook or bake together, writing and illustrating a story about life at home during COVID-19, sharing your childhood memories. Let them see their parents dancing and working together and telling corny jokes. As a family, you get to decide how isolation looks in your house. I believe you were made for such a time as this.

It is no mistake that you are alive during this strange season of isolation. There are important lessons to be learned and taught. There are battles to be waged and won. There are joys to be shared and connections to be rekindled. There is great joy to be found as you huddle together with your family and look for ways that God is working and expressing His great love for you. Don't miss the opportunities. You truly were made for such a time as this!