"You must look at your life ..... Look at your life through Heaven's eyes."

Here we go again. This time it happens to be on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. It's interesting how our attention can be diverted when we are dealing with more pressing issues. In January of 1954 my dad passed away from a sudden illness and that, literally, turned my, (our), world upside down. I was 8 months shy of my 8th birthday. Perhaps a 7-year-old back then would not have noticed very much about what was going on in the world, however, it's hard for me to even guess how long we were in a dense fog after this life-shattering event. I can look back and see that General Eisenhower was the President and Richard Nixon was Vice President. The now-famous ruling, Brown versus the Topeka School Board, was settled by the Supreme Court, effectively ending segregated schools. In 1954, the US population stood at just less than 165 million. My dad had been a fanatical baseball fan but I'm pretty sure I didn't notice the NY Giants had won the World Series. That was the first World Series to be broadcast in color. This was also the first year children across the nation received the polio vaccine. I do remember my mom taking us to a clinic where we stood in line to receive this inoculation. Looking at the news headlines, it appears I may have begun to begin noticing stuff in 1957 when the Cold War was heating up. I, by then, was a baseball player and that occupied a lot of my time. It wasn't as if the small rural town in Louisiana where we moved after dad's passing was a hotbed of news and current events, but, my point is how I eventually came out of the tailspin and with God's provision, I moved on. Could I ever make sense of why the things happened like they did? Never. However, I have learned to trust God and that has been the source of my confidence. He knows all about it. And, that's enough. Amen.

People might say it would be best to never think about these past events. As if not thinking about them makes them any less impactful. While I may not catch all the details in terms of my recollection, I am fully aware that this life-changing event along with others have been critical in the making of who I am today. As our pastor often says, "Life is best understood looking backward." Of course, we must be careful connecting the dots based on our faulty understanding. I do know without any doubt whatsoever that God used my grandparents, especially my grandfather, to influence my life as I grew up under their tutelage. I do know that I grew up in somewhat of a "Mayberry" world. It's true. Warts and all, it was different in those days. I do know I met the country girl who would become my wife. I was talking about this one time and I was using the predicate, had dad not have passed away, I would not have (fill in the blank). My eldest son pointed out to me that everyone can backfill the connecting of dots in this way. Had we not moved. Had the job not transferred. Had there not been a major illness. And, on and on, we can go. I get that, but, I also know from what God has chosen to reveal to us that He is at work at all times and in all circumstances to fulfill His plan and purpose. This causes us to look back at all that has happened and to both conclude and embrace this certain truth, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

God used Joseph's circumstances to develop him into the man of God He used to preserve and then build the great nation He had promised to Abraham. (Genesis Chapter 15) When Joseph was brought before Pharoah, arguably the most powerful ruler in the world, when asked about his ability to interpret dreams Joseph denied his ability and said the interpretation could only come from God. He further told Pharoah that God would give the interpretation and it would be one of peace. This was before he even heard the dreams. I will add some conjecture here. The series of events that had happened to Joseph had caused him to see his life through the providential working of God. Therefore, I believe he began to see his being in the presence of Pharoah as a God-ordained meeting and he responded accordingly. The wife and I went to the movie theater and saw the original Dreamworks 1998 cartoon 'Prince of Egypt' when it came out. This was a retelling of the life and times of Moses, the servant of God. I literally fell in love with the musical score. My favorite was this one, "Through Heavens Eyes". Here's an excerpt of some of the lyrics:

A single thread in a tapestry
Though its color brightly shine
Can never see its purpose
In the pattern of the grand design
And the stone that sits on the very top
Of the mountain's mighty face
Does it think it's more important
Than the stones that form the base?

So how can you see what your life is worth
Or where your value lies?
You can never see through the eyes of man
You must look at your life
Look at your life through Heaven's eyes

A lake of gold in the desert sand
Is less than a cool fresh spring
And to one lost sheep, a shepherd boy
Is greater than the richest king
If a man lose ev'rything he owns
Has he truly lost his worth?
Or is it the beginning
Of a new and brighter birth?

So how do you measure the worth of a man?
In wealth or strength or size?
In how much he gained or how much he gave?
The answer will come
The answer will come to him who tries
To look at his life through Heaven's eyes

And that's why we share all we have with you
Though there's little to be found
When all you've got is nothing
There's a lot to go around
No life can escape being blown about
By the winds of change and chance
And though you never know all the steps
You must learn to join the dance
You must learn to join the dance

So how do you judge what a man is worth?
By what he builds or buys?
You can never see with your eyes on Earth
Look through Heaven's eyes
Look at your life, look at your life
Look at your life through Heaven's eyes

My point? Joseph began to see his life through heaven's eyes and ended up being used mightily by the Lord. Perhaps this is how we too can begin to fulfill our God-ordained purpose. Amen. ....More later.