“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. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” – Isaiah 55:8-12
I like sports. I like to play many different sports but if I can’t do that I like to watch certain sports. I particularly like to watch baseball and football. And since I’ve been watching and participating in these sports with a critical eye for many years, I think I’m pretty knowledgeable when I watch these sports. I think I pick up most of the action and understand the strategy. I think I’m just as aware as the next guy.
But now and then I’ll watch a game with someone who changes my view of how well I know these sports. Now and then I’ll sit with someone who challenges my understanding of how well I actually see the game.
This happened to me often when I would watch a football game with Jim Grogan. Jim was a life-long football coach at the high school and college levels. His son, Steve, was a quarterback with the K-State Wildcats and then the New England Patriots. So Jim had watched a lot of football. When I watched a game with him, sitting side by side in the stands, it was as if we were watching two different games.
Jim could see a play developing and see when players were out of position. If a flag was thrown, he knew what had happened and why long before the referee signaled the penalty. His experience with the game and his willingness to share and to coach and to teach a guy like me made watching the game fresh and new. I learned and began to see more as I watched the game, never at his level, but far more than I had before watching the game with him. I came to realize that my perspective on the game was limited and that others who have different experiences and knowledge see it far differently than I ever could.
Sometimes as I sit and look at life, the events that happen and my understanding of them, every now and then I have to be reminded that my perspective is limited. I don’t know all there is to know about the world, about the situations that I am observing, about the people involved and how they think and act. I need someone who is far more experienced and wise to give me counsel and to guide my thinking about what is happening.
While there are plenty of commentators out there willing to give me their two cents worth, I’ve found that the best commentator is the One who came to live and experience life to the full, the One who set the world into motion, the One who sees the whole picture and not just some small part of it. When I sit beside Christ to consider the events of the day, instead of darkness and despair, I am given a picture of hope. Instead of promises of war and destruction I see and hear promises of peace and love and understanding. Instead of being pulled down, I am lifted up.
Prayer: Oh God, help me to see the world as you see it. Help me to experience the love that you are showing to the world every day and claim the promise of peace, hope and joy. Amen.
