November 2003
Movies
and Windows
The airplane lifted off from Chicago and headed toward San Diego after
the stewardess went through the usual drill of explaining that our seats could
be used as floatation devices even though we would not be flying over water.
Eventually, the seatbelt sign went off and we were treated to drinks and
eats. It was going to be a long
flight and so we were treated to an in-flight movie.
The stewardess kindly asked us to lower our shades so it would be optimum
viewing for the movie. Bruce Almighty was
being shown and I was interested in seeing it since it depicted a young man who
complained about the job God was doing long enough that God let him rule a small
part of earth for a time. It has
some very good lessons.
But another lesson I learned came as a surprise.
Near the end of the movie I decided to see what was outside, so I lifted
the shade on my window. When I
looked out I was treated to a spectacular view of mountains. It struck me that God was providing better entertainment than
the movie. The sights were more
magnificent and rewarding. Here I
had been hoveled in a dark plane watching electronic images on a screen when I
could have been witnessing the grandeur of creation.
It was more beautiful than anything I had seen on the screen.
But I am often looking at the wrong things.
I check my PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) continually.
I wander through the programs on my computer. I check the messages on my cell phone. I speak into the tape recorder I keep in the car so I can
remind myself of things I need to do, and record ideas for a sermon or a new
program. I am buried in the
electronic age, and in many ways a slave to it.
It keeps my eyes focused on electronic data instead of what I really need
to look at: the needs of people, the splendor of the natural world, my wife’s
face, a bright crescent moon. I
miss so much by being so busy with gadgets and the latest technology. I begin to think that these are the things that make my life
work and keep it interesting. I
have to remind myself that the power I need comes from God and I need to lift
the shades that cover my soul and see what God is up to.
Learning to look,
Rod
|
Mulberry
Street United Methodist Church