Cross Sighted

This morning I was a bit at a loss as to what the blog entry for today should say. I asked Tim if he had any ideas and he referenced a verse used in the devotional message our pastor gave before last night's board meeting. Here is the verse.

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

2 Peter 1:3-9 (New Living Translation)

Tim shared that pastor's message had focused on how we often times are nearsighted on our walk through this world. In other words, we cannot see the big picture. Jesus walked these same dusty roads, but he was not nearsighted as we are. To use pastors words, he was cross sighted. Keeping his eyes fixed on the big picture, Jesus faced the same hardships as we do, and more, all the while understanding the big picture.

I suppose technically he was the big picture.

and I am reminded again today,

as the lyrics of Amelia's song

(I Will Carry You-Audrey's Song)

play in my head and heart...

But there's a greater story,

written long before me,

because he loved you like this.

There is work to be done.

God has big plans for each of us

No matter how small.

Our Lord has given us many gifts

the greatest of these is himself,

new life in the death of his son.

Early on Tim and I made a silent pact,

we would not waste Amelia's life.

Along with this we must acknowledge

his blessings in both our trials and triumph.

We must be cross sighted

in this new life he has given us.

It is hard to see through the tears,

in these last days with our daughter.

and still,

by the grace of God,

we can see the cross.