A NEW WAY OF SEEING

Can You See It?

      “Dad, Dad! Look at this!” said my oldest son, Andrew, as he walked into the living room with an open book in his hand. “This is so cool!” he said, pointing to a multi-colored graphic of…nothing. To me, it was a bunch of colored shapes. Nice colors, mind you, but I didn’t get his excitement. Ordinarily, this middle-schooler was impressed with nothing short of shaking hands with a professional baseball player or landing on the moon. I felt his forehead for the fever that would explain enthusiasm for a book of colored shapes.

      “There’s nothing there,” I said confidently. He smiled. I know that smile. So do you. It’s the one that communicates with a simple facial expression that he knows something that his dad doesn’t, therefore he is highly intelligent and his dad is a cave man (with all due respect to cave men).

      “Yes, there is, Dad. The picture is hidden.”

      I looked again. More closely. Stared and searched, grasping to regain my “dad is smart” standing. Not. A. Thing. And the boy once again smiled that condescending smile.

      “There is nothing there,” I said, with what I hoped was confidence. “You’re just trying to fool me.”

      “No, really, Dad. Look at the picture. There are dinosaurs.”

      “Sheila, what is the doctor’s number? We need to take this boy there quick. He’s hallucinating.”

      “Daaaad!” he said, using the universal pronunciation children use when frustrated and disgusted. Especially when the man who sired them tells “dad” jokes.

      “You have to look through the picture to see the hidden picture. It’s a ‘Magic Eye’^[i] picture.”

      I made for the car keys thinking we should go to straight to the ER and bypass the doctor.

      “Just try it, Dad.” I tried it. Nothing. Except the mish-mash of colors as before.

      The smile turned to delighted, patronizing laughter.

      “I can see it,” a voice sounded. I glanced up to see my daughter peering over my shoulder. “There are four dinosaurs. Two in the back, one there and a baby in the front. Aww, isn’t he cute?!”

      “You guys are just messing with me. How long have you been concocting this? You’re all grounded.”

      “I don’t go anywhere, Dad. How can you ground me?” said the little female at my side.

      “Here, Dad. Let me show you,” Andrew said, appearing to be helpful. I couldn’t help but wonder what the next act in the humiliation play would be.

      “Hold the book up to your nose, keep your eyes the way they are now and slowly move the picture away from you.”

      Right.

      But I dutifully did it expecting raucous laughter at any moment as these hooligans pulled something on me.

      “OH! Right. RIGHT!” I exclaimed in amazement, the dinosaurs coming more and more clearly into focus.

      “See! SEE! I told you!”

      “You were right, I conceded. I saw it all along. I was just pulling your leg.”

      “Daaaaaaad!”

      But he was right. I didn’t see the dinosaurs at first, though they were always there. Not until I learned a new way of seeing could I make out the depth of what was there, the real beauty in the picture.

A New Way of Seeing and Knowing God

      The problem was not that the dinosaurs were missing, or that the design of the picture was wrong, or that I wasn’t trying, or even that my eyes were not working. The problem was with the way I was looking. To see the Magic Eye picture for what it really was necessitated a new way of seeing; the ability to look past the superficial to see the real picture. I couldn’t do it by myself, though. This new way of seeing required a guide who had experienced it to show me the way. As a result and to my delight, I saw what had been there all along.

      I believe that many people are looking for God, but not seeing Him. The problem is not that God is hiding from us, but that we need a new ways of seeing. Ever since the Garden of Eden debacle, men and women have struggled to see God as He really is. Sometimes hidden, sometimes distorted, sometimes defaced, the true picture of God calls to us just beyond the superficial. As a result, we are hindered from experiencing a true relationship with God. A relationship that satisfies the longing in our hearts, fills the hole in our souls, makes sense out of life, provides us purpose and gives us hope.

      My hope is that this book will lead you to a new way of seeing and thus a new way of experiencing the relationship with God you have always longed for. That it will guide you to see past the superficial to what is really real with God. That, through this book, you will allow me to be your guide to a relationship with God of intimacy and awe. Not because I have it all figured out, but because I might be a few steps farther down the path.

       

‘You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord,     -- Jeremiah 29:13–14a

‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’                                    -- Isaiah 55:8–9

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’      -- Jeremiah 33:3

(This blog entry is the introduction of my book, "Intimacy and Awe," available at Amazon.com)

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[i] Magic Eye® images are a product of Magic Eye Inc., PO Box 1986, Provincetown, MA 02657

Was It Worth It? Perspective on the Pittsburgh Pirates 2015 Season

It is a sad day in Pittsburgh. A summer that seemed so promising has ended in an autumn “failure.”

Was it worth it?

The Pittsburgh Pirates had the second best record in all of major league baseball. Better than any division winner but their own. They played so well the entire season and now, in ONE GAME, it is all over.

Was it worth it?

There are many mourning, others complaining, others blaming, others accusing, others taking it out on people who had nothing to do with it, others dulling their sorrows in the comfort of choice. Is it fair? Moot question. The playoff system is in place, whether fair or not.

Was it worth it?

Was it? Was it all worth it? All the months and effort? To win almost 100 games during the season and then losing in, what some would consider, an embarrassing way?

Let’s take a think. The obvious: from someone who lived through twenty losing seasons, three winning seasons is a thrill. You have no idea the number of times I was asked “What’s wrong with the Pirates?” as I traveled the country. Twenty years of embarrassing futility for fans as well as players. The city was infamous.

But now, it is not just winning seasons, but three playoff seasons in a row. And this season was a phenomenal year. Each game was something to look forward to. The team worked hard, enjoyed great camaraderie, never gave up and genuinely appreciated their fans.

The excitement brought a city, no... an entire region, no... a Pirate nation from all over the world together. The season brought a group of men together in friendship and encouragement, in facing ups and downs together, in overcoming adversity, sadness and pain together.

The winning provided a forum for coach and players to make a difference in the lives of people in the hospital, people who came to the ballpark, people who met the team in various venues. It provided a platform for Christ following coaches and players to share their faith in Jesus Christ.

Was it worth it?

I say an enthusiastic “YES!” It was worth it because it highlights that the true value of life is in the journey not the trophy, ring or money. The friendships in the clubhouse, in homes where people came together to watch, the connections dads and kids made during trips to the ballpark, the conversations started among strangers or acquaintances, and so much more.

It is the together journey that matters in life. Long after the disappointment is gone and the champion forgotten, the relationships will remain. And THAT is what really matters.

Was it worth it?

Hear the words of the Apostle Paul inspired by God:

³I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, ⁵because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ⁷It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. Philippians 1:3–7 (ESV)

So, though we are disappointed, let’s focus on what we gained, not what we wished for.  Sure, it would have been nice to celebrate a World Series champion. But what we have right in front of us is of such greater value – sharing the journey of life together.

Boldly, Herb

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Angles on Life - Seeing Life From Where God Sits

           I’d always thought it was because my kids liked me and they liked me holding them.  They would reach out their little arms toward me and want to be in my big, strong arms.  When they got hurt, when they were tired, when they were scared, or when they wanted to see something they couldn't reach.  Turns out to be purely selfish.  It wasn’t about me, it was about THEM!

            I tripped over this insight a years ago when my youngest son, Chadd, was standing in the kitchen pointing at something on the kitchen counter to the left of the sink.  Being a toddler he couldn’t communicate clearly so we played “the guessing game.”  You know the one… he points, grunts and I make guesses as to what he is looking at and what he wants me to do with it.  (And we parents think we are in charge.)  A similar game is played when the toddlers become teenagers.  It's called, "How could you be so stupid?"  This game is played when the parent asks a question, the teenager looks at the parent, rolls his eyes, sighs, and in other ways non-verbally communicates to the parent, "How could you be so stupid?" 

            Back to Chadd…  I picked up item after item asking, “Is this what you want?”  To which he would pull the pacifier from his mouth and say, “No.”  He kept pointing, I kept guessing, he kept saying “No” and I got frustrated.

            In desperation I knelt down beside him, sighted up his arm and looked.  It was instantly clear.  I stayed on my knees a while and looked around at his world.  It was enlightening.  Do you realize that toddlers live in a world of kneecaps?  Big kneecaps, small kneecaps, kneecaps in hose, naked kneecaps, invisible kneecaps covered by jeans.  Our world is built for humans at least five feet tall.  Everything looks different from the angle of someone two feet tall.  EVERYTHING.  The floor is close but all the good stuff is far away.  Feet are constantly swinging toward you.  Shopping carts look like bulldozers.  You can't reach anything beyond the second shelf.  And if you take a risk and climb on the kitchen table the big people yell at you.  It is daunting, dangerous and disconcerting.  THAT is why my kids wanted me to hold them – so they could see life better and be protected from the kneecaps. They felt safe when they were in my arms.  And when a parade comes by the best seat on the street is on dad's shoulders, using his ears as handles.

            The way life looks is determined by your angle.

            Life appears a lot like Chadd's world to us human types much of the time.  We just don't realize it. We see things we need or want up on the counter of life, but we can't reach them.  Problems threaten to kick us in the teeth.  When we take a risk people yell at us.  We get scared, hurt, frustrated, tired, as life looks overwhelming.  That's reality.  The good news is that we have the same option Chadd chose – we can reach our arms up toward our Dad and He'll hold us, help us get what we need, protect us, and reassure us.

            But best of all, when we're in God's arms we can view life from where He sits.  Only then can we see it as it really is.  The world was built by our heavenly Dad and only from where He sits does it make sense. 

YOUR life was specifically designed for you, but only as you see it from where God sits does it make sense.  Sitting on His shoulders is the best seat on the street.

            The way life looks depends a lot on where you’re sitting. Ask God to pick you up to give you at least a glimpse of what your life looks like from where He sits.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

Boldly, Herb

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The Return of the King

The Return of the King

My wife, Sheila, was so excited when we woke up Saturday morning, while at the same time I was groaning.  What was behind those opposing emotions?  Not because it was Thanksgiving weekend. Not because the first day of deer season was Monday. Not because I was with her. 

IT WAS SNOWING!! 

Sheila gets delightedly excited when snow falls from the heavens while I dread the nasty wet stuff. The difference?  She looks forward the beauty of freshly fallen snow. She looks forward to the look of newness when it covers the earth.  She looks forward to days when shuts life down and when are forced to stay home.  She looks forward to the hush that falls when the snow hushes all noise.  She looks forward to walking in it and even shoveling it!  It’s about all the ways snow adds value to life.

I dread it the troublesome precipitation!! My thoughts go many directions, none of which have anything to do with beauty, newness, cozy days at home, romantic walks or hushing noises.  My thoughts are about trying to get off of the treacherous, icy, slick hill we live on, the dangers of driving in it, the aching muscles from shoveling it, paying for it to be removed, the wasted time I have to spend on it.  It’s about all the ways it sucks value from my life. 

Same snow.  Even the same home.  Sheila longs for it and I don’t have one cell in my body that wants it.

Very much like the two mindsets of humanity about Jesus coming back.

The Bible tells us we should be excited, longing, even praying for the Return of the King - Jesus.  Not just knowing it as a fact and promise of our Lord, but focused on it, LONGING for that day.  I’m ashamed to admit that I have not been LONGING for my Savior’s return.

“Both the Old and New testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that there are 1,845 references to Christ's second coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence. In the 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are 318 references to the second advent of Christ--an amazing 1 out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ's first advent, there are 8 which look forward to His second!”  (Today in the Word, April, 1989, p. 27).

You get the idea that the return of the King is a big deal to God!  Something that we should be LONGING for.  But… most Christians I’ve met are not focused on Jesus’ return.  I’ve been asking myself, “Why?”  When the Bible gives it that much ink, why are we not doing the same? 

- Is it possible we’re too comfortable with earthly life to focus on the next?

- Is it possible we’re too caught up in the here to be longing for the hereafter?

- Is it possible we’re not convinced of the pleasure of Heaven?

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

I will not long for snow, but I’m working on longing for the return of the One Who loves me most.

How about you?

Boldly, Herb

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