No stealth and no ninja. I have a pair of tennis shoes that are extremely annoying because they’re so LOUD! When I walk in them, I sound like I’m walking in soaking wet shoes, so every step makes a squashy, squishy, sloshy noise. If I’m not careful when I walk in these shoes, I can get really cranky as the noise can become more than tiresome to me.
It was interesting, however, to have some conversation with God during one of my daily walks. I’ve been wearing my squishy shoes on these walks because they feel good on my feet; and, during my walk, I felt God tell me to look up. So I followed the divine direction with a quick glance to the sky, but I kept hearing the instruction to, “look up.” I began to lift my focus from the pavement and not just at eye level, but to actually begin looking at the tops of the trees and even at the sky.
This was interesting to me because I didn’t need to look at the pavement or mind where I was going because I’ve already walked this sidewalk innumerable times. I’m quite familiar with all the cracks in the sidewalk, along with sections that are slanted, so I don’t need to keep my focus downward. I found it difficult to change my habit of looking at where I’m walking to focus on things at eye level and even the higher heights.
I wonder if this couldn’t be equally true in relation to our perspective and focal points with life. It’s possible that we could be in the habit of focusing on our daily activities, routines, stresses, frustrations, uncertainties and decisions. It’s also possible that we have a horizontal focus habit, such that we observe the people around us, what they’re doing, saying, fixating on social media, news, letting our vantage point be regulated by everything eye level. Sometimes it’s good to concentrate on our daily stuff as well as the people and news around us. And we have to pay attention to our responsibilities, decisions that need to be made, driving safely, minding our step, avoiding ice, pitfalls and potholes.
However, it’s lots more important that we keep our focus upward, letting our perspective and vantage point be shaped by God more than everything that is so very human and confined. Here are some Bible verses that might be helpful for keeping our vision more vertically aligned:
Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Isaiah 26:3 The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.
Hebrews 12:2 …fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Psalm 141:8 For my eyes are toward You, O God, the Lord; In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.
2 Corinthians 4:18 …while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Look Up!
