Seeing More Clearly
by Malcolm Wood
After a long day shopping we returned to the car park to see there was frost on the top of the car. So we weren’t surprised that we couldn’t see out of the windscreen, when we got into the car. Reaching for the De-icer spray and ice scraper, I got out of the car to clear what I thought was a frost covered windscreen. But I discovered it wasn’t frozen. It was condensation on the inside of the glass that was obscuring our vision. Maybe it was a ‘senior moment’, but when I couldn’t see through the windscreen I’d immediately assumed the problem was on the outside of the car.
So often it’s like that in our lives. We have problems seeing our way ahead We’re unable to make the right decisions, because we can’t see clearly what God’s plans and purposes are for us. Our first response is to look outside ourselves and blame others, our environment, our education or our upbringing. The list of people and circumstances which we perceive as the cause of our present difficulties can be endless. These things may have influenced who, and where, we are now. But our greatest problem is usually within. It’s the way we perceive and deal with all these external factors that obscures our vision. How we view ourselves can affect our view of God, of others, our surroundings, and our work.
Once we have a better understanding of how God sees us, it helps us to have a clearer view of ourselves. We’re then in a better place to begin seeing how things really are, and with God’s help we learn to handle circumstances in the right way.
‘Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal’(2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
A right perspective will give us a better view of the things that really matter.
‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus … and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace’ (From a hymn by Helen Howarth Lemmel).
Prayer: Dear Lord, Please show me how You see me, and help me to deal with those things in my life which are distorting my view of my circumstances and those around me. Amen.
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
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