I stepped onto the elliptical at the Y this morning. It was just before the sun came up when I got there. As I jacked up the music and got the machine set, I looked up through the window in front of me. The immediate view was looking into the lobby. Beyond that, another set of windows with a shade, and beyond that, the wide world.
And the sunrise. The sun was just rising over the Boise mountains. The colors were spectacular. I could feel the warmth even through the multiple layers of glass and shade between us. It was beautiful.
And so it is with God. When we’re introduced to someone who knows Him, we see the beauty that shines through. We can feel the warmth of His love radiate out of the people who love like He does. But that’s only a glimpse! Even as we get to know Him ourselves, the view is obscured by our own issues.
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. ~ 1 Cor. 13:12
There are so many layers of the world between us and God. We can still see that He’s incredible and warm and the brightest thing there is, but we lack the full vision. We lack detail and full brightness.
It takes time to remove the dirt from the window and raise the blinds. It isn’t 1 decision or act that clears our vision. It’s a lifetime of moving toward the light. A commitment to (with His help) removing the next obstruction, and the next. And I’m pretty sure we won’t get a perfect view this side of death… but I love what I’ve seen so far, and I want more.
What do you think?