I find myself doing it often. I am looking down, trying to make sure I don’t trip on anything. I want to know my next step will be okay. So my head is down and I am moving forward. But I forget to look up. I sometimes forget that there is so much more than the road in front of me. If I only look down, I miss all that is happening around me. I miss the sunrise. I miss the stars and the moon that shine so brightly. I miss the animals that roam close. I miss the beauty of the day when I am only focused on my little area.
Leo loves to chase flies. I am not sure what it is about them, but they ignite a hunt in him. One can fly by and he is ready to go. Last night, we were watching TV and he was staring up towards the ceiling. This isn’t normal for him. He is either sleeping or begging for a treat. So it instantly made us look as well. He had spotted a fly on the ceiling fan. Now we know there is no way he was ever going to reach that fly. But this captured his attention. He was so focused on that fly that he watched its every move. He was alert and ready for something that he could not reach. It had him intrigued.
I wonder what we miss when we are only focused on our little circle of the day. When we have our head down, honed in to the work of the day, what is going on around us? I think we sometimes miss God at work all around us. I think we miss how he is changing lives and loving on others. I think we miss opportunities to show his love, grace, and mercy. I think others miss seeing the peace that is within us because we are focused so heavily on the task at hand. Sometimes it pays to look up. It could be that when we look up, we are intrigued at the opportunities around us. We just might find our ‘fly’. And it just might bring us joy.
Look up, my friends. Good things are all around us. God is with us. God is at work.
Focus Scripture (a Benediction for today):
2 Thessalonians 3:16
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 