What Do You See?

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith.”

(Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV)

Lesson #16 on a Journey to a Water Well.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

On our fifth day in Uganda, our family participated in a clinic with Sole Hope. We loaded several old Landcruisers with volunteers and supplies and drove in a single file line on dusty dirt roads for an hour. That day the clinic was held at a rural primary school. The school had four wooden classrooms, a couple of desks, and a blackboard. A large open space in front of the school was a gathering spot and a playground.

Approximately 200 children and some local villagers were on hand for the clinic. I had no idea where all those children came from because we hadn't seen many houses—shacks, and huts—in the vicinity. The children wore school uniforms, but very few, if any, wore shoes, and every one of them was bald.

Everyone gathered outside in front of the classrooms to enjoy fifteen minutes of silly songs, games, and laughter before the children and villagers lined up for the clinic.

Each patient had their feet washed and examined by a trained volunteer for jiggers.

Jiggers are tiny fleas that burrow themselves into the soles of your feet and can quickly grow and replicate, causing pain and potential infections. After inspection, any jiggers found were removed by a trained volunteer or staff member using a straight pin. The children then received a sticker, a lollipop, and a new pair of shoes. Wearing new shoes helps to ensure their feet would stay jigger free.

Each volunteer was assigned a task from washing feet to handing out stickers, carrying patients, distributing shoes, etc. Surprisingly, this clinic was well-staffed by Sole Hope, and a volunteer quickly filled each role. They didn't really need my help.

So, for the next hour, I played with the children. It wasn't long before I was savvy enough to take out my smartphone, reverse the camera mode, let the children see themselves, and take their own photos. They loved it, and I couldn't believe it. I avoid cameras and mirrors at all costs. The camera doesn't lie, and most days, I need a little more grace than it's willing to offer. But these children squealed with delight and laughed with joy at seeing themselves.

Then, it occurred to me. I bet they don't have mirrors. If you live in a mud hut, maybe mirrors aren't your first priority. Maybe your eyes aren't fixated on yourself; maybe they're focused on something else.

It's funny how God shows up in unexpectant ways. I originally envisioned the clinic as an opportunity to serve others by removing jiggers. But God had other plans.

My role that day was relational. I spent time talking to Ugandan women and laughing with Ugandan children. Instead of a straight pin, I had a phone. Instead of freedom from jiggers, I offered 5 minutes of joy from a camera. But, as always, I received far more than I gave.

For just a few minutes on a hot Ugandan afternoon, I saw what God sees. I saw a world that wasn't consumed by vanity or the preoccupation of how we look. And because they didn't spend their lives consumed by projecting or filtering the right image or by comparing themselves to how others looked, they experienced joy when they caught a glimpse of their radiant faces. And maybe that's what God wants for all of us. He wants us to see what He sees and experience the joy of His creation instead of criticism or disapproval. Every one of those children was distinctly different but uniquely beautiful. They were fearfully and wonderfully made.

Maybe subconsciously or consciously, being preoccupied with ourselves rob us of more joy than we realize. Maybe that's one of the reasons we should fix our eyes on Jesus.

We were created to worship but not to be worshiped. And when our worship is out of alignment, our souls are in disrepair.

The truth is many things vie for our attention. But my prayer is we will become preoccupied with Christ. We will fix our eyes on Jesus in ways that free us from the anxiety or depression that results from being preoccupied with our problems, vanity, or dreams.

I want to be more like the Ugandans. When I catch a glimpse of myself, I want laughter and joy instead of criticism.

But mostly, I want to be more like Jesus. I'm guessing Jesus would have spent time healing people from jiggers. But He would have also spent time loving others by rescuing souls through friendship, laughter, and joy. He heals our bodies and our souls. And He wants to use us to do both.

Let's discover what would happen in us and through us if we offered God our yes and the freedom to show us who He is, what He sees, how He loves, and what He does.

Lesson #16 on a Journey to a Water Well

16. Discover life in unexpectant places when you offer God your yes and the freedom to show you who He is, what He sees, how He loves and what He does.

Want more? Start here.

1.     Read Hebrew 12:1-3.

2.     Hebrews 12 compares our lives to a long race and encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus so we won’t lose heart. What does it mean to fix your eyes on Jesus?

3.     What are you currently preoccupied with? A problem? Illness? Future hope or dream?

4.     How different would your life be if you spent as much time thinking about what God wanted you to do and how you could accomplish His will as you did your own problem, illness, or future dream?

5.     Challenge.  Pray for God to teach you how to become preoccupied by Him. Teach you how to fix your eye on Him.