Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Romans 13:14
One day it became obvious. We all know about DNA and how we pick things up from our ancestors. Whether it is hair (or lack of it) from an uncle or our leaning toward a certain body build, the ones who have gone before have indeed left their fingerprints all over us. However, sometimes, it doesn’t work that way. My Daddy and Momma both wore glasses and yet somehow, I ended up with pretty good vision. I can remember in my younger years I could spot something in the distance that others would miss. It was better than 20/20.
Then one day I noticed something. While I don’t remember the exact day, I do remember the thing that called my attention to it. One day, I looked down at my watch and realized that it was a bit fuzzy. Hmmmm. So, I moved my arm around a bit and soon everything was back in focus. There….problem solved. This went on for a while and though it was a slight inconvenience it wasn’t a deal. Yet.
I was about 40 when this “slight inconvenience” began but I don’t think I fully understood that it was a beginning. As the years went by, I began playing the trombone. You know, to get my eyes to adjust I would have to move my watch, or the book or whatever, in and out to gain focus. That worked…until one day my arms just weren’t long enough. My eye doctor told me what I already knew—it was time for readers.
Readers are these glasses you wear when your arms are too short. You don’t wear them all the time, you simply put them on when you need to look at something close up. So, every morning, I wake up—or at least that’s the plan. And, because my regular vision is good, I still can see around the room and far off. But when I sit down and want to read my Bible or my iPad it instantly becomes apparent—I need my readers. I quickly remember that it is a blurry world without them—at least my close-up world is. So, I slip them on and boom—I can see—clearly.
The key is remembering where your glasses are. I have multiple pair in my home office, I have two on my desk and one by my chair when I read. I know that they are essential—to see close-up. I know some people struggle with the far-off thing and I might too one day but for now…readers are my friends…readers are my essentials. Nobody wants to live in a blurry world, especially when the world is so blurry you can’t make heads or tails of anything.
I’m a Jesus follower and because of that I know there is a promising future out there. I’m sure He has my future in His hands though I’m not sure what that always looks like. I am learning just to hang on and trust. I do know ultimately because of my faith in Him (and certainly not because I deserve it) I will spend my forever with Him in a place called Heaven. I don’t know where you land with that but, hey, it is most definitely worth checking out. Grab a copy of the Bible and read it for yourself. It’s been around a really long time with no revisions so it’s something that can be trusted.
But that is then. What about the here and what about the now? Well, just like I really need a little help reading up close, I need more than a little help to do life—up close and personal. And that is one of my favorite things about following Jesus. He doesn’t wait for a time way off in the future to be there for me. He is here now. Sometimes it is from the Bible, sometimes it is in my everyday walkabout life, and sometimes it seems like a still small voice, but He is there to help me in my otherwise blurry life. Over and again, I see His handiwork—I call them love notes—as He helps me journey. I’m learning the more I look—the more I see. The more I see—the more I want to look.
It took me awhile but now it is a natural reflex for me to put my glasses on. When I pick up a book, glasses on. When I’m reading the instruction manual, glasses on. When I’m setting the thermostat, glasses on. I’m also learning to put on Jesus the same way. Difficult decision…Jesus on. Wisdom to make it through the day…Jesus on. Need help forgiving or being kind…Jesus on. Paul, one of the writers in the New Testament, says that we should make it a point to put on Jesus, but he doesn’t stop there. He says that we should not even crack the door open for things that are contrary to the Word. He knows nothing blurs our world like going crossways with God. And here’s the amazing part…it really works. Just like my glasses give me clarity, so does Jesus. He makes life make sense. And I have the confident assurance that because He can see clearly…He always knows the answer. And because He does, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 