ABBA FATHER, We’re home from the mountains and I thank You for the time away, to be still, to be quiet and to rest from all the day to day events that seem to so fill my time. As I sit here this morning, I’m remembering part of a teaching I listened to and a scene from a movie – that seem to run together. The movie was 28 Days with Sandra Bullock, who is in re-hab. The scene is where she and her sister in the film are sharing a moment. Her sister shares how she has always felt small in comparison to Sandra’s character, how Sandra’s character always seemed “bigger” than life.
The teaching dealt with the “Why” in why do bad things happen. The teacher mentions the scene in Luke 13. The crowd is asking why the tower of Siloam fell on certain people and not on others. Was it because of their sin was greater? Jesus says no – but unless you repent, the same thing could happen to you. Later in the teaching he brings up Peter’s question, after Jesus’ resurrection, when Jesus tells him how he, Peter, is to die. Peter’s response is – in essence – well what about John. Jesus response is – what is that to you – You follow me.
So why do these two points come together for me? I think because I am to often distracted by what I see in others that I don’t see in myself and the word that comes to mind is a “kind of” envy, where I miss what You have for me because I’m to busy comparing myself to someone else. My focus needs to be adjusted and I need to see myself as You see me – not through my own judgments or the worlds, but through Your eyes; eyes of love and acceptance and joy. It really has nothing to do with who I am, but in “Whose” I am. It is You who gives me meaning and purpose and I delight in knowing that I belong to You. And that Lord is more that enough for me.
