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Back in the days before corporate America sucked the life out of me (that would be known as college), I was in charge of the weekly newsletter at the BCM (Baptist Campus Ministries) at school. It was mostly announcements, but there was some space for a weekly thought/devotional type thing. As I was going through some old papers tonight, I found one that I saved...the one that I thought was probably the best I wrote. Plus, it's sort of about 1122, which makes it all the more cooler. So I thought I'd share it with you (or re-share, in a few of your cases).
From Tidings, September 22, 1998
It always amazes me when people visit our apartment for the first time during the day. As soon as they overlook the mess, the tackines, and the big scary mass of computer stuff, they can't get over what an awesome view we have out of our window. Our side of Rose Towers faces out over the river, and since we're on the 11th floor, we can see all kinds of pretty stuff.
What gets me is that I never notice this view by myself. I suppose I did the first time I walked in the place, but since I live here and see it every day, it never sticks out or takes me by surprise at its beauty. I'm more apt to notice how dirty the windows are and how messed up our screens are (thank you Housing). There's a beautiful world out there with the river, the trees, the sunset, and the rest of God's creation, but I usually don't look past the window.
I think a lot of times these same things happen in our Christian lives. Some of us have been Christians for years, and so the incredibly hopeful and awesome world view given us by the redemption through Jesus doesn't grab our attention anymore. For someone else who hasn't seen that panorama before, we forget what a beautiful view it can be. We're too busy focusing on the scratches in the windows of some other people or ourselves that we never notice there's a beautiful sunset over the river happening behind them.
So instead of being complacent with our view, let's share it with other people. Look out the window... there's a whole world out there.