Knowing What to Look For

I may have shared this before, but it’s worth repeating: when my grandmother was 16 years old she mistook a bald man for a large newel post as she was coming down the stairs at the theater. Can you imagine how surprised both she and that man must have been by her mistake?! She had chosen not to wear her glasses because she didn’t like how they made her look. Clearly she really needed them.

And now for a slightly similar story:

Last week I was walking with a friend when I heard something racing through the forest a few yards away. I looked up, startled, and saw something big and gray. My vision is much better than my grandmother’s, but I am significantly nearsighted and wasn’t wearing my glasses. I took a step back, sensing danger. My first thought was that it was a big dog or possibly a coyote, moving at an alarming speed. My friend saw what it was right away. “A Blue Heron!” she declared in delight.

As soon as she named it, I too could see the enormous blue-gray bird—so unexpected in the forest. Normally, I see them in open skies or standing in shallow water. This one had been flying low to the ground, its enormous wings rattling leaves and thin branches as it flew, making more noise than a deer. Finally it settled on a fallen tree. 

I had almost missed and mislabeled a beautiful, unexpected gift because I didn’t know what to look for.

It’s a good picture of what God does for us as we walk through life with Him, listening to what He says in scripture. He alone always sees and labels things correctly. We are all nearsighted.

“For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.” ~ Psalm 36:9

Blessings to you as you lean on His vision,

~Amy