Don’t Forget to “Look Up”
Do you ever look up? I’m laughing a little in my heart because it’s a funny question to ask and, truthfully, the answer for me is, “No, not as often as I should.” Three times this week, the Father has caused me to pause and look up. It’s not that I don’t see the sky or even glance up once in a while, but to really look up and gaze into the sky…not very often. I’m too busy for that. Again, I’m smiling inside at the irony…“I’m too busy”…how arrogant. I’m too busy to stop, look up, behold, appreciate, and just be content in the moment…shame on me.
Today, I reached a pinnacle moment of frustration and found myself retreating to my backyard and taking a seat on the steps of the deck. And as I sat there, the thought crossed my mind (for the third time this week) to stop and look up. As I did so, in an instant I was captivated and my soul calmed. The tall, tall trees lazily swayed their arms in the warm, late summer wind. Their leaves shimmered, shaking their little heads in some happy delight. The sun’s rays poured through the dancing boughs and lit everything with a golden glow. The sky was a perfect shade of azure, not a single cloud to be seen. It was splendid.
And my heart chuckles again because…it was so simple. All the frustrations that had built up over days and so “owned” my thoughts were gone in that moment—instantaneously! The unhurried way of God’s divine creation, and simply taking a moment to observe the work of His hands, well…it was enough. After about 20 minutes, I went back inside and, truly, nothing seemed to be as much of an issue as it had been when I had first stepped outside. I was content.
Consider this passage for a moment: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:6-10
Though the focus of this passage is money, the heart of it is contentment. There is nothing so important in this world—no situation or frustration, no thing that we pursue (money, jobs, positions, accolades), no way that we fill our time (sports, TV, games)—that can compare to just simply living in the godliness provided through Jesus’ righteousness, a gift from the Father, mixed with genuine and fruitful Spirit-filled contentment.
Today, join me in slowing down. Let’s not forget to “look up”. Let’s remember to consider the Father and His ways. Let’s not forget to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with appreciation of what the Father has done and what He has so generously provided for us.
Katie Botello
FBC Aztec Member