We long to escape and revel in the beauty of God’s glorious
creation: to hike through the majesty of mountains, to soak in the restorative
power of the ocean. How many poems have been written, how many photos taken or
memories savored of the nature that surrounds us? Are we not also His creation?
Jesus said the crux of following him is to love God and love
others. If I am honest, I find the
first commandment much easier than the second. In fact, I find loving the Earth
much easier than loving the other people who inhabit it. I can usually find kindness in my heart
for another person, but true, genuine love? I can’t remember the last time I
sat in wonderment at the beauty and miracle of another human. (Other than my
adorable one-year-old boy. When he’s sleeping. Let’s be real.)
Instead of finding that place in my spirit where I can truly
praise God for another person, especially one who is not friend or family, I
find myself in comparison and judgment.
Let me tell you, comparison and judgment are the opposite of love. Living in that place is awful. As I know God’s
commandment and desire to love His created ones, I have tried to stop those
thoughts. I’ve listened to sermons
on contentment, confidence, and killing comparison, but do you know how difficult
it is to stop doing something you’re focusing on not doing? Don’t
eat that cookie; don’t eat that cookie. Dang it, I ate the cookie. Don’t compare yourself to her, don’t. Therefore, I instead have to focus on what
I do want more of: love.
When I realized that I have more praise in my heart for the
redwoods than for the person standing in front of me in line at the supermarket,
I grieved. Yes, God created the redwoods for His glory and for our joy, but how
much more than the redwoods does He love His child, the one who is standing in
front of me at the supermarket? A parent’s heart is so happy when someone else also loves and celebrates her
child. Can we love and celebrate
God’s created ones? Can we revel
in the glorious wonder of another human? Of another human who doesn’t look like
we do? Of another human who
disagrees with our perspective?
So now, I practice. I practice imagining how God thinks of His
child, the one who is standing in front of me at the supermarket. I imagine how her Father loves her
smile, and I smile back. I worship
God for her uniqueness. I ask her
a question and listen intently to what she says because her voice is important
and what she has to say reflects her beautiful mind. I practice hiking through the majesty of humanity. I practice soaking in the restorative power
of another individual soul.
Through practice, I have a new palate to savor the most beautiful nature
that surrounds me.
I am basking in your love right now Amanda!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debbie! You are cherished by our Creator and by this family! Love you! 😘
DeleteThis was such a great reminder and revelation! I often forget these beautiful wonders (people). Beautifully written and beautifully transparent!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eden! I really appreciate your thoughts.
DeleteWhat a cool perspective! Love this post
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angela!
DeleteI love this! I am working on this myself, but it definitely takes work not to compare or judge. Its a dramatic perspective change to see others how Jesus sees His children, but I am learning that once you start practicing it, like you talked about, it starts to get easier. Change has to start somewhere, but once you let His heart for your brothers and sisters in, it becomes easier and easier to see that over your own view on them.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does get easier! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Blessings on you, friend!
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