UNNOTICED

Catching Glimpses of the Savior

Today is the day before Memorial Day. My post was going to be about the sacrifices made by the many men and women who have died in service to this country, but as I was walking this evening I was struck with a much different thought.

It has been very warm these past two weeks. In contrast to the cold we had this winter, I rather like the heat. I stepped outside to take Wagsley for his evening walk in the park. I was surprised at how much the temperature had dropped. It wasn't cold but there was a breeze and the sun was setting. The deep blue sky was dotted with white puffy clouds. Everything felt peaceful. I was actually hoping that no one would be at the dog park, so I could walk the track and talk to my Lord. I never want to seem rude when others are around, but I do enjoy being alone with God on my walks.

My third time around the track I watched the families playing in the pool. I wondered if they noticed me walking, as I noticed them playing. Then I was struck with a thought, "do people go through life and never notice all that is around them in nature and never wonder how it got there? Does God and all He has done for them go unnoticed?" As someone who feels invisible most days, I thought how sad that there are those who never see all that God has done for them. They just go through life living for the moment or working so hard that they can't see how much He loves them.

Imagine Jesus in this world hanging on a cross and dying while people drive past. That image came to mind and it stopped me. Would I notice if someone were suffering in my place, or would I drive by in a hurry to get to work or the store? I know Jesus is no longer hanging on a cross. He has risen from the dead! I guess my point is that He DID hang on the cross. He DID suffer in our place. He DID raise from the dead. Why does it seem like these things have gone unobserved?

I was noticing everything on my walk. The sky, the clouds, the grass with patches of brown and clumps of weeds, the trees adorned with bright pink flowers, the dirt and gravel under my feet, all of it harmoniously in place even the dead leaves and the flower blossoms raining down from the trees on the wind. All of these things were a symphony of perfection. Was I the only one who noticed it? The wind blew in my face and I closed my eyes. I imagined it to be the soft breath of God's voice saying "I Love You". It was pure, fresh and caressed my face.

I was reminded of when Jesus met Nicodemus at night and He was explaining what it means to be born again. John 3:8 "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit." Sometimes life feels like we are just blowing in the wind. We don't know where the spirit of God is leading us, but we trust that it is where God wants us. I've been feeling a lot like this lately. I don't seem to have any purpose. I go to work and come home 5 sometimes 6 days a week. The weekends fly by and I do it all over again. Why? What is the purpose? We make t-shirts. There is nothing special about it. I desire more, something....

I Imagine Jesus telling me to be patient. When I am ready the Spirit will blow my heart in the right direction. The door will open to where He has been preparing me to go. I've always just jumped without thinking. Impetuous & impatient are two adjectives that describe me. I guess you could say I'm like Veruca Salt in the original Willy Wonka "I want it NOW!" I don't think I'm quite that bad, but patience has never been my strong suit. Another adjective that describes me is cynical. Not things to be proud of, but truthful is also something I am to a fault. I'm watching my years get longer behind me and shorter in front of me and wonder when the amazing will happen for me.

I think of Martha being so busy that she couldn't hear the words of Jesus, and he was right there. He had to remind her that Mary was doing the better thing by spending time with Him. Sometimes we just get so wrapped up in doing what we have to do, that we forget to enjoy what God Has put in front of us. His creation is for us. His word is for us. His Son is for us. We are the apple of His eye. We are his Children and He desires our heart and our attention. When we fail to notice Him every day, what a heartbreak that must be!

Someday we will see Him face to face. I can't wait to finally hug him in person. I've thought about this a lot since my sister died. Does she hug him all the time? I bet he gives the best hugs. His smile is what I long to see. One day everyone who ever lived will notice him. There will be nothing to distract us. We will all bow before Him the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. How amazing that day will be! Nothing I worried about here will matter. Eternity will be ahead of us all and no one will have to Imagine Jesus for we will see him. What a thought!

Luke 10:41-42 "But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

1 Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."

Philippians 2:10-11 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."