“By choosing to intentionally look for God’s provision in your story, you are also making the choice to ‘look up and look around,’ as my pastor Michael Flake always says. It would be easy to become a navel gazer, just putting your head down and focusing on your own stuff. And while there can be a season for that, you can’t do it forever without a cost.”- Meredith McDaniel
“Let us come alive to the splendor that is all around us, and see the beauty in ordinary things.”- Thomas Merton
In Chapter 4 of In Want + Plenty, Meredith McDaniel notes that trauma of any level influences our lives. However, as Dan Allender writes, “Tragedy always moves our stories forward in a way that shalom [peace] could never accomplish.”
Above all, beauty exists in the truth that God created each of us differently. Yet He formed each of us in His image. Because if God made us all the same, we’d view life through the same lens. And wind up unable to support each other in this essential transformation. Furthermore, we learn to appreciate each other and value our differences.
Certainly, God didn’t create us to do this life alone. Thus, He’s with us along the way. But, one of His good gifts = the help of friends. Therefore, Meredith counsels, with prayer and focused attention, choose friends to join you. In addition, feel confident they’ll be honored to enter into your story and that it will bless them. Because, Meredith underscores, our heart and soul are sacred. As a result, you pour out your heart and soul only to select people.
In conclusion, the author states:
“It’s restorative when we begin to share our story, and it results in freedom for others to share their stories too. When we look up and look around, we can see the common thread of our humanity (emphasis Meredith’s).”
Today’s question: What most helps you to intentionally look up and look around? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Mindlessly lifting heavy bricks – carrying burdens”
