The Eyes To See
Posted on May 3, 2007
Filed Under Uncategorized, Life, Love, Fear, Trusting God |
Marc’s Uncle Harry is dying: cancer. After visiting with his grandma early yesterday evening and trying to offer some measure of normalcy, family, and comfort to her during this time, Marc and I sat on our porch, each with a glass of wine and him with a cigar, and talked about, among other things, the pain his family now faces. Around that same time we saw someone who we thought was Cole, our youngest son, walking from the high school across the street and toward our home.
“Is that Cole?”
“I don’t know?”
We squint and stare.
Pretty soon the figure that we can almost swear is Cole is out of vision and walking the bend of the pathway that leads across the street and to our neighborhood.
Marc and I continue talking and the mood, as you can imagine, is rather somber, contemplative. I keep my gaze in the direction of the traveler who I think is my son. “I don’t see him anymore . . .”
We talk. I watch.
Pretty soon, and rather suddenly, I see him, my babe, dreadlocks bouncing as he does that lope like only he can do. My smile is broad across my silly face. He smiles back and waves as soon as he sees us, me and his dad - his family, on the porch of this place we call home. The dogs perk up and join me in the middle of our street to greet the boy. “I thought that was you! I just wasn’t sure.”
Sometimes, in cancer, divorce, suffering, hunger, depression, anger, confusion, and all the rest of humanity’s woes, it’s hard to see Jesus . . . to recognize Him. Sometimes in the face of pain, regret, or hopelessness it’s hard to tell if, in the distance, that’s Him with His familiar light, hope, joy, and promise so afar off. Sometimes, consumed by our present peril, He is out of sight and, more often, out of mind . . . but I’m here to encourage you and me, that He’s just around the bend. And just when you’re ready to fix your eyes some place other than Heaven, He shows up, with the lope that only He can do. He reminds you that this place, this place with all of its sickness and sadness, is only home for a little while, and that even with all its shortcomings in mind, He’s here walking this walk, living this live (in its entirety), with us, for us, and in us - always.
He assures us that He was there all along - in the nurses that provided that extra amount of care, in the friends who rose to the defense of your mind when you thought you would lose it, and in that husband who, though you are most unlovable at times, persists in loving you unconditionally. He, Jesus, was there all the time . . .
Romans 8:38, 39 -
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I pray I have the eyes to see.
Peace and Blessings,
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I just wanted to thank you. A friend of mine shared your website with me today. My 22 year old son has just been diagnosed and begun chemotherapy for Hodgkins Lymphoma. It is hard to see Jesus in this pain that is so heavy I can’t breathe. God has brought me through trials and suffering before, but never like this. I live in a constant state of fear and prayer. Thank you for allowing me to see Jesus for a moment and to know that I am not alone in what I’m feeling.
Karen,
I’m humbled and grateful that I could play some small part in encouraging your heart, urging your faith, and holding your hand in this, undoubtedly, confusing, painful and scary time in your life and the life of your family. I pray that the peace of God will simply and absolutely consume you and that in ways you or your son has never known before, He will show Himself real, compassionate and able.
My prayers are with you . . . that you have the eyes to see.
Sincerely,
Nicole