“The trouble with nearsightedness is we don’t know what we might be overlooking. If we can’t see it, it’s as if it isn’t there, as far as we know. That’s why we need to ask Jesus every day to show us the treasures of His grace. The Lord is eager to open our eyes to truth and beauty.”- Alan Wright
In Chapter 2 of (“Missing: Seeing Wonders Hidden in the Deep”) of Seeing as Jesus Sees, Alan Wright talks about the spiritual treasure available to us. When we practice pausing, connecting, and looking with Jesus, life becomes more thrilling and more full of wonder. Because we see the wonders of grace in the deep.
Consequently, Pastor Wright discusses a whale watching experience he and his wife shared. In August 2019 the couple boarded a whale watching boat located a couple of hours north of Quebec City. They hoped to see awe-inspiring, eighty-foot fin whales. Actually, they spotted more than the fin whale. They also saw a humpback mother and her baby, white beluga whales, and a minke whale.
As a result, Alan concluded that seeing whales is glorious. But watching without seeing is no fun at all. Therefore, getting rocked by life’s troubles requires spiritual sight to navigate the rough seas.
After a night of fruitless fishing, Simon Peter and his coworkers watched Jesus teach from their empty boat. Pastor Wright draws this insight. That Jesus sees empty boats as His best pulpits. Above all, Jesus sees empty souls as His best pupils. In addition, Alan observes, emptiness comes in many forms, such as:
- the scar of someone’s empty promises.
- the confusion of a career that feels empty of purpose.
In conclusion, Pastor Wright exhorts:
“When you think of all you’re missing right now, remember, Jesus is drawn to empty boats and empty hearts. . . The story of the tired, fruitless disciples points us to the power of seeing Jesus. When God has already prepared the best for us, we don’t need to plead for the provision — we just need to see it.”
Today’s question: When are you prone to spiritual nearsightedness? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Future fruitfulness – provision”
