20/20 Perspective

I hesitated to grab the low-hanging fruit blog topic for today.  Surely blogs, vlogs, and the like will fill social media with comments - some poetic and some prose - about how tomorrow marks the day that the new year's number matches the numbers that represent "perfect" vision.  My hesitation, however, lost out as the theme continues to grab my attention.  Allow me to grab yours for a couple of minutes.  

As a refresher course, I will explain the meaning of the measurement of vision.

• 20/20 vision means that a person sees objects with clarity at 20 feet.  It is thus "perfect" vision.
• 20/80 vision means that a person sees objects with clarity at 80 feet only by moving forward 60 feet.
• 20/10 vision means that a person sees objects with clarity at 20 feet that a person with "perfect" vision must be 10 feet away from.  Thus better than "perfect" vision.

Dr. Seuss' wonderful book My Many Colored Days provides a creative way to explain the many different feelings one experiences.  Some bright days are such because we feel as happy as a circus seal.  Other days are dull because we feel sour and gray.

In the year to come, you and I will have many days of many colors - happy orange, dull gray, and the like.  Jesus declared, with great honesty, "In this world you will have trouble."  He also spoke of people as blessed and bearers of light.  Our days will vary.

Will our vision vary, also?  Not our eyesight.  Our perspective.  We need to keep our eyes (our perspective) focused on what truly matters.  What truly matters?  God matters.  Since God matters, we need to focus on Him.  Daniel did.

8 Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done.
9 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts.
10 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.
12 Remember the wonders he has done,
1 Chronicles 16:8-12a (NIV)

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
25 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and joy are in his dwelling place.
28 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come before him.
    Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
30  Tremble before him, all the earth!
    The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
    let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
33 Let the trees of the forest sing,
    let them sing for joy before the Lord,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.
35 Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;
    gather us and deliver us from the nations,
    that we may give thanks to your holy name,
    and glory in your praise.”
36 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.
Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”
1 Chronicles 16:23-36 (NIV)

In 2020, no matter the quality of your eyesight, focus on God.  He will help you see.

Happy New Year!

#ordinarylives

"Shades Drawn Tight"

A few years ago I composed a poem within which I reflected on the amazing gift of God's grace.  I share that with you now.

"Shades Drawn Tight”

With the shades drawn tight
I hide myself from the light
For I see me not as free
But as bound to a powerful three
Fear, anger, and doubt
Grip so tightly and keep me out
Of life and joy
Like a man’s duty placed on a boy

I pull and release the strings
And the newly-lifted shades
Reveal a presence so real
It teaches me, once more,
What it means to feel

Then like water forging a trail
Determined to prevail
Flowing down its newly formed path
The light, undeterred, fills a bath
And pulls me into love and hope
Removing my need to grope

With the shades open for sight
I bathe myself in the light
For I see me as truly free
As one joyfully bound to the Holy Three
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Grasp so tightly as I hear the Heavenly hosts
Sing of life and joy
Creating a child of God out of a mere hobbledehoy 

Mark T. Goodman
A child of God by His Grace

#ordinarylives

Photo credit:  Ben Schulman - "Lights on the River" - 2013 - Anchorage, AK.

The Consolation Prize Worth Winning

With perhaps a few exceptions, Anchorage School District students look forward to this Thursday's afternoon bell.  That sound will mark the end of a semester and the beginning of Winter Break.  

Calendars tell us that winter begins on Saturday; but according to kids, the final season of the year starts on Friday.  In my mind, as I write, I picture hundreds of Calvins running with glee.  What brings you glee?

 

For the writer of Psalm 94, it was the consolation of the Lord that brought glee.

18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
    your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
19 When anxiety was great within me,
    your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 94:18-19 (NIV)

You and I are no strangers to our feet slipping.

We slip for various reasons . . .

• Poor traction
• Steep inclines
• Steep descents
• Slippery paths

Those translate, in our faith walk, to . . .

• Poor preparation
• Intense temptations
• Careless pursuits
• Those infamous "slippery slopes"

Glee abounds when God steps in and prevents our fall or picks us up after we have already fallen. 

As we draw near to year's end, we will benefit from a time of reflection that leads to joy.

When God steps in, His actions mark the end of the slipping and the beginning of firm footing. 

1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Psalm 40:1-3a (NIV)

The slimy pit-dweller became the firm-place stander.  He experienced the consolation of the Lord and, therefore, experienced glee - such glee that his joy led to singing.

Reflect on the times in 2019 when God consoled you.  When did He keep your foot from slipping?  When did He lift you up?

Through the Scripture, the Author instructs us to do a very helpful thing.  He tells us to remember.  When we remember, we find it much easier to do two additional actions of faith.
     1) Trust God.
     2) Fight Fear.

We grow in maturity as we learn to do those essential actions of faith.  The more often we remember, the better we become at trusting and fighting.  Back in Psalm 94, we recognize what the psalmist fought and in whom he trusted.
    - He fought anxiety.
    - He trusted God.
As a result of both actions, he experienced the LORD'S unfailing love and consolation.

What a prize!

#ordinarylives

"God in the Arts"

My family and I enjoy the productions of TBA (a local theatre group).  As their name illustrates, they train better artists.  Memories of seeing their production of "Fiddler on the Roof" continue to form my mouth into a smile.  With anticipation, my family and I await their rendition of "It's a Wonderful Life," which we will see this coming Friday. 

With equal anticipation, I look forward to Saturday as well.  On that afternoon my wife, oldest son, and I will watch and listen as my youngest son graces the ivories during the Winter Recital.  What parent doesn't love seeing their child share a talent?

This weekend, at least for the Goodman family, will be one filled with theatre and music - filled with art, in other words.  Gratitude overwhelms my heart when I contemplate the thought that God, the greatest artist and artistic director, filled creation with color, sound, beauty, music, and awe.

Art connects me to my Creator.  As I listen to music, I hear the miracle of sound and the use of talent.  When I view paintings, I see the fruit of one's expression that found its voice on the canvas.  "Christian" and "secular" art alike arise from a motivation to create (even if the artist is not aware).  God grabs our attention, when we choose to notice, through the art of nature and the art of human creation. 

View Rembrandt's "The Return of the Prodigal Son."  What do you see? 



 










Attend to Van Gogh's "The Starry Night."  Do you see the glory of God in the sky?










Listen to Elijah Bossenbroek's "I Give Up" and you will hear a bit of the music of heaven. 

Tune into Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" and you will hear expression of loneliness and temporary solace.  The song reminds me that our world needs more hope. 

Watch Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera" and the music will move your innermost being. 

Experience "Fiddler on the Roof" and feel the honesty of Tevye's musical protest to God that poverty, while not a shame, is "no great honor, either."

On Friday, as I watch the artists of TBA and Saturday as I listen to the talent of my son, I will smile and thank God for the gift of the arts.  Watch and listen; you will see and hear the creativity of God.

#ordinarylives

Kindness

An angel walks into a bar . . .
No, it isn't a joke; it's a story. 

Just over a month ago, a couple dined at a family-owned restaurant in Euclid, Ohio.  After enjoying a nice meal and purchasing a fine wine to go, the waitress, to her stun-worthy surprise, received a $1070 tip. 

Samantha "Sam" Meyer could not believe her eyes and, therefore, asked if there was a mistake.  (I once left a $50 tip with the intent of leaving $5 - wow that now sounds cheap!)  The generous gratuity giver assured Sam that he wrote the number he intended. 

Using the "average generous" tipping percentage of 20%, Sam would have received $24.45.  One thousand forty-five dollars and fifty-five cents richer, Sam declared, "God works in mysterious ways."  She knew that the bills she struggled to pay in October were covered, even after she shared her gift with her fellow servers.  The family owners considered the patron to be an angel. 

Acts of kindness warm our hearts - even when we receive nothing other than the joy of hearing about them.  When have the acts of others blessed you?

I recall . . .

• the check that arrived in the mail when we needed to replace our boiler.
• the financial help from my parents and in-laws over the years.
• the words of encouragement from a friend during a difficult time.
• the tow out of the sand when our dip-netting trip took a turn.
• and so many more times when others blessed me and my family.

Now for another question.  When have your acts of kindness blessed others?  I hope several occasions enter your mind.  That time you . . .

• helped a neighbor.
• gave that gift with no strings attached.
• said that encouraging word.
• forgave the debt.
• carried the load.

If it has been a while since you were that mysterious way through which God blessed another, change that today.  Look for an opportunity to practice an act of kindness.  See it, do it, and then look for another.

25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV)

#ordinarylives