The other night Scarlett decided she wanted to play the piano in the living room. Which was great except she was disturbing Henry who was watching a show and wanted to stay close to us all. I offered to set him up in our room to watch from the bed and thought I’d done an excellent job. He was all propped up and looking like a Pharaoh when he pointed to the TV and declared, “It’s so far away!” I did a double-take. 

Excuse me? Our television is a good distance from the bed, but not that far.

Maybe he’s spending an excessive amount of time on the iPad with his face so close to the screen? I don’t think I’ve ever made the correlation. Now it’s become conspicuously obvious how far the TV is from our bed! (And how close his little face is to the iPad!)

Waking this morning, I thought about that scenario. Often, because I spend face-to-face time with my Father, I forget that others don’t know they’re far from Him. I fail to have compassion due to the familiarity of my position.  

With all of us keeping our distance it becomes even less likely we’ll encounter someone who needs to move closer to Jesus. Or maybe not…

Our neighbors. Delivery people. The person who brings my curbside pickup to the car. Maybe an old friend we look up to reconnect. Even my social media posts will either draw men to Him or throw up roadblocks.

I don’t know what the future will bring. But the message of hope we hold – this treasure in earthen vessels – needs to be communicated intentionally and liberally.

The Word says there’s a lot of fertile soil around us, just longing to be watered. Or perhaps I can tend some seeds that were planted by another.

Maybe I need to change positions mentally so I keep a fresh perspective, to stay present with the people around me. Christ was constantly on the move and encountered countless opportunities to introduce folks to our Father. 

Let’s pray like David, “God give us eyes to see and ears to hear.”

I wonder what else I’m missing or not seeing clearly. That’s what’s on my mind…

Be Kind. Love Well.

~ Tonda