Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Seeing the Seconds

It feels so still in the house this morning. Quiet.




The sky is covered up in clouds, as if  the sun itself is choosing stillness over the hustle and bustle of rising and shining.

Will has caught a sore throat, a stuffy nose and a fever. He is asleep, under his covers, recuperating from a night of coughing. Farmer Boy is respecting my morning time and space, and is hiding upstairs, beginning his work day.

He and I have a date planned tonight. A night together to celebrate 26 years. A night for us before the girls come home for Christmas and stillness is replaced by motion and memory making.


I'm sipping my English Breakfast tea and reading The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp, this book that comes out every year and every year fills me with new.



Today's words were about Samuel's choosing of David to be Israel's new king. Samuel showed up at Jesse's place with the knowledge that one of Jesse's boy would be king, but not knowing which one. Jesse brings forth his eldest who must have been impressive. I'm picturing tall, dark and handsome.

God said, "Nope. Not that one."

And so began the procession of Jesse's sons. There were several and apparently they were all tall, dark and handsome.

But none of these strapping boys were the one God wanted. Samuel starts to get fed up and asks Jesse, "Are these the only sons you've got? Got anymore?"

Jesse tells him there is one more. The youngest. The runt. The one they make take care of the sheep. There is no glory in sheep watching. There's just a lot of sheep, wide open spaces, a big sky, and time to think, pray and sing. Not the kind of thing that people take note of. Not the kind of thing that gives you a reputation for being the biggest, the strongest, and the best. Just a boy, his words, songs and his sheep.

We would want the big, bulging one. The hunk. The 'did you see those arms?' one.

Seeing the seconds, Ann Voskamp says. Re-training our eyes to see past the muscle, the beauty, the strength, the glitz and the glamour. Can we do it? Can we get below the surface? Can we learn to not be distracted but to be still and to peer into the heart?

See the seconds.

The 'no room in the inn' people.

The 'is that all you got?' crowd.

The 'speak up' set.

The quiet ones. The hidden ones. The ones you won't find up front or in the middle of, but the ones in the back, tucked quietly in a dark corner, or alone in the foyer looking slightly unsure of all the laughter and people, hoping they won't have to talk to anyone.

Perhaps our living breathing example of , "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." (Mark 10:44).




Our inspiration to serve.

To surrender.

To humble.

And give thanks.


1 comment:

  1. Beautifully said as always...was thinking of you today..every day...Happy Anniversary!!

    ReplyDelete

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