new eyes

I have worn glasses since 6th grade. At some point after we move back to the U. S. I would love to have my eyes surgically corrected. We'll see if that happens. But here in Belgium my eyes have actually improved. When I looked at people in the U. S., I didn’t always see them as they were. I cared for people around me and I genuinely desired that they come to know Jesus. But, sometimes my vision would get blurry and instead of saying or doing things to bring people closer to Jesus I would get caught up in the hectic nature of daily life—working on my house, pursuing hobbies, paying the bills, working, whatever. But here in Belgium daily life has never seemed very ordinary. Going to the post office, picking the kids up after school, walking to the city center, and every other ordinary thing is made extraordinary because I am aware of the sacrifice we made to be here. And the experience of living as an outsider continually reminds me of my purpose. My eyes see people as they are. Everyone I see is a person in need. And most of them know nothing about the hope (many of) you and I have in Christ. A colleague of mine in the U.S. once described looking at people who don’t know Jesus as seeing walking tombstones. That is sometimes the way I feel here when I look around me. I hope these eyes will go with me to Fargo and anywhere else I may happen to be.

I had the opportunity to share these (and some additional) thoughts at my church Sunday. I closed with this really brief video.