Eyes Wide Open

My friend was one of those people that changed lives by doing life together.  I would be a completely different person had I missed knowing my friend.. This would have been birthday week, a celebration of #50 for my friend; however, the last celebration on this side of heaven was a decade ago.  Death was unexpected and certainly not welcome. The thing is . . . in missing my friend this week . . . I have more clarity.  It is because of our friendship that I am able to see the gift of others in my life.

There are so many things that are easy to miss, if, we fail to take another look.  Of course, it easier to see what we missed in the past than what we are missing in the present moment.  It is in the present that clarity of the gifts of God can be rather difficult to see, especially when life is challenging.  In our culture we tend to complain about the challenges and difficulties rather than to respond with gratefulness for the life we have.  In the book of Exodus, the people were told that their complaining was against God: Moses and Aaron told the People of Israel, "This evening you will know that it is God who brought you out of Egypt; and in the morning you will see the Glory of God. Yes, he's listened to your complaints against him. You haven't been complaining against us, you know, but against God."(Exodus 16:6, The Message)

Could it be that ultimately when we complain . . . we are complaining against God?  

 The thing is . . . the people missed the point that they had the presence of God and one another.  They failed to see that they had lived. .. though . . .   the most powerful army in the world had pursued them and they had crossed the Red Sea on foot.  They were alive because of God!  It makes me pause . . . and look again . . . to see the gift God has given, even in the midst of pain and suffering.  When it comes down to it . . . God wants us to see with eyes wide open . . . to see His presence and power in the present as well as in the past.  God has created us to see that we are a part of something so much greater than ourselves.

Paul wrote it to the early church:  By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones). (Ephesians 1:18, AMP).  

We see more when the eyes of our heart are wide open, flooded with light, the presence of Christ.

Are your eyes wide open?  See beyond the circumstance.  Look at what more you have received . . . through a relationship with God  . . . and those who have made a significant impact in your life.  Refuse to complain.  Intentionally give thanks. Celebrate!

Learning to KickStart the day with eyes wide open,

Kerrie

(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)