20/20 Vision

Don't we all desire 20/20 vision? Fortunately, if we don't have it naturally we can get it with visual aids. We can correct our poor vision with glasses, contacts, or surgery. Even those with more profound visual impairments or even blindness can aid their sight with canes, sight-seeing dogs, and the acceleration of other senses. What about our spiritual vision? How can we perfect that? Or can we? We can enhance what we see and how we see it (perspective) with reading of God's Word, prayer, fellowship and accountability with other Christians. Unlike the near perfect physical vision we can regain with the aid of other devices, we can never gain near perfect spiritual vision and perspective. Our perspective and vision is so much less than that of God. Though we can strive to increase and perfect our spiritual vision, it will never be 20/20, which is only held by our Lord.

The only way for us to obtain 20/20 vision or perspective is through hindsight. We've got to go through it and then turn, look back and have that ah-ha moment. Our vision and our perspective are what can cause us so much grief. In the midst of trials, circumstances, and suffering, we question why. We try to figure it out. We try to guess the reasoning. All to no avail.

My words are feeble so let me share something that so simply yet so profoundly happened to me. Yes, it involves that dog gone little tech-y box...the ol' laptop computer.

Last Thursday, I admit I was a little excited to post on Friday about Dependence Day. I, as normal, like to be different. I call it unique. I wanted to play on the word dependence versus our national holiday of independence. I was almost to the very end of composing it when my computer beeped at me. How dare it. It froze. It crashed. It was never revived by this inexperienced techy. How poignant that I had just typed about being dependent on God. Just knowing that God was going to fix my computer, I didn't make plans on Friday or Saturday to take it to the doctor (Best Buy Store). "No, I'm going to wait it out" I thought to myself. "Why else would God allow me not to post my Dependence Day piece on Independence Day. It's not going to mean as much to post it after the 4th." Yes, these were my crazy thoughts. "This is a test." I thought as I continued to try to rational the reason. It was only at that time that I realized I needed to also include prayer for computers along with keys, etc. Then, I thought maybe God wants me to spend a couple days with Him and no computer.

Okay, after almost 48 hours, I realized that God was not going to come down and magically poof my computer to life. Oh, the dread. A trip 60 minutes south the the 'puter doctor. I called and explained the systems of the poor thing. We figured it was either the operating system or the hard drive. Oh, ugg. Here we go...on a long trip and then trying to find something to do for five hours for them to fix it. Oh, what would I ever do. Shop? I had just been shopping for those "much needed" items of which not a one fit, you know, shorts, capris, etc. I was content on making the trip and was going to treat myself to the salad and breadsticks and Olive Garden while I pondered on God's Word.

I dropped off the computer and decided to just return home because it was very unlikely they'd finish my computer by closing time (five hours). Upon leaving my lap box there, I was informed it would cost $99 to first save all my data which is merely pictures and some documents but my 30+ page devotional manuscript was one of the items. That would take hours to recreate. Dumb me. If only I had thought to save everything onto a CD or better yet flash drive. Okay. So we know I'm going to pay $99 for my data. Then, he says, if it's the hard drive it is still under the one-year warranty and it will be free. If it's the operating system, it will cost $199. Okay. Well, we can pray for the hard drive to be bad. Also, if they replace the hard drive the new one will be faster and larger than the manufacturer's one. Oh yes, now we are really praying for a bad hard drive. (haha)

I earnestly prayed for the cheap route which coincidentally would be the most beneficial. I was not worried but had somewhat of a sense of confidence looking back onto it. As I spoke with one of the geeks (yes, the men who fix your computers at Best Buy are called The Geek Squad and they even have vehicles with the logo on it)...so, as I spoke with the geek on the phone Monday morning I asked if it was the hard drive or operating system and he so beautifully said, "I believe it is your hard drive because I see your computer right here with the hard drive removed and a new one beside." Oh beautiful geek, you blessed my heart.

Yay! So of course I sang praises upon praises to my Lord. Knowing that $199 could so much be better used anywhere but on a computer. My heart sung, not because I was getting a FREE and better hard drive with no cost to me, but because I know it was my Lord who performed that mighty work. I know He did it for me. I just know it. It wasn't that He wanted to save me 199 bucks but that He wanted to bless me with the reassurance of what I had just written. Just to "see" Him work in my life, no matter the size of the issue, was a blessing. It was just such a blessing. I cannot stop smiling from thinking about how much He loves me to do the little things for me.

Fast forward, yes I made another long trip down south 60 miles to pick up the lap box. I arrived there and said "I'm here to pick up my baby." No joke. A little humor. It did seem odd not having instant access to the web, email, etc. for those five days. A geek (remember he is what he is) did the paper work, handed me the lap box and said there you go. I said, "oh what about my data disc?" He said it was in the folder. I asked "Well, is there a cost for that?" He said, "no, that's just what we do."

I was floored. Floored, I tell ya. I had to pick up some other things one of which is a flash drive to save, save, save everything. I tell ya, Best Buy has geeks every where. They just let them roam around the store. Which is very nice because they are always asking if they can assist us wondering customers. (Unlike some stores...not mentioning any names.)

So, needless to say it almost took the full 60-minute drive home to get my chin off the floor board. I'm still shocked. Here I went into this thinking okay max $300+ and minimum $100. But God says no, $0. Yes, it did cost me a half of tank of gas which is about $25. That's cheap for a new hard drive though.

Back to the point of all this gibberish...I remember last Friday when I was a little uneasy wondering why oh why did my new computer crash. I pondered on the trip down there, the potential cost, how long I'd be without the computer, finding the time to make these trips. I really tried to reflect on what the Lord could be saying and doing by allowing this crash of my computer. I really wanted to see Him in this situation and what, if anything, He wanted me to do or how He wanted me to reflect on this. I couldn't see the point of this simple thing causing such an imposition not to mention my disappointment in not getting to post on the 4th.

I see now that posting on the 4th wasn't all that necessary. The meaning of my Dependence Day post still resonated into the hearts of the readers. It still made the point regardless of the actual day of posting.

I see now that the trips were long but also productive as I also added other needed tasks to the trip so they weren't solely for the computer. It was also nice to just be on the road with the Lord in prayer and music.

I see now that the Lord delights in providing for me, even in the most unnecessary things. If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm. Psalm 37:23

I see now that the Lord wanted to reaffirm in my heart that He does care about ever detail of my life. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22

I see now that He did do this mighty work for me. O Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do? Deuteronomy 3:24

I see now that any work of the Lord's is a miracle. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. Job 9:10

I see now that the Lord used a computer to open my eyes to see Him working in my life. You saw with your own eyes what the LORD did (at Baal Peor). Deuteronomy 4:3

I see now that the vision of the Lord working in my life is greater than any monetary savings I could receive.

I see now that no matter how hard we try, we will never have 20/20 spiritual vision nor will we ever have 20/20 perspective. Our perspective will always be a human perspective and it can never be a God perspective. We can never see the perspective from His viewpoint, which expands all of time.

Is there something in your life that you just don't understand? Is a situation going terribly wrong? Can you not figure out the point of an issue? Are you trying and seem to get no where? Try to step back and see that God has the full perspective and only He knows the usefulness of what seems so useless.

Kelley at Aroma of Joy shared about her inability to lose weight after her seventh child and how God has used that and her love for running. It really touched my heart to see God using "menial" things to change, touch, perfect, mold us. It's not about the end result. It's not about the goal. It's not about the final destination. It's about the journey and the process along the way.

Expand your perspective. Realize it will never be what God's is. Strive for better spiritual vision. Look for Him and His ways. You will find Him. But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29

"And Jesus said, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40

Expanding My Perspective,