Are You A Screen Looker?

I have heard it said that we cannot control what happens to us in life - but that we can control how we react to that which is happening to us.   I have also heard it said that the only thing in life we can control is our perspective.   I like both of these thoughts, and I believe they are related.  See, I think that how we react to life’s lemons is based on our perspective.  Simply put, we can’t react by making lemonade unless we already have the perspective that these sour tasting, eye burning, impossible to peel oblong spherical fruits may be a blessing.

I thought about listing examples here about chipped paint on a car not being the end of the world because you can use that to teach your son about forgiveness.  But I’m going to skip that and let you figure that out on your own.  Instead, I want to explore how we can even begin thinking about lemonade when we wish that our biggest problem was chipped paint.  What about when we are faced with the death of a child?  Or what about when we can’t think of any way out other than divorce?   How do we make lemonade then?  I wish we lived in a world where if we prayed hard enough, had enough faith, and did enough good things, life turned out well.  But the reality is: that’s not how life works.  If you disagree, we can talk after you meet Job in Heaven.

This is where we need to talk about “screen looking”.  According to Urban Dictionary, a screen looker is “someone who spies on their opponents in a split screen multiplayer match. It is used to determine their location, amount of health, and carried weapons.”  Screen looking gives you insight as to where your opponents are, what they are doing, and possibly even what their future plan is. I’m suggesting that in life we need to screen look a little.  Specifically we need to look at God’s “screen”.

Perhaps part of the reason God didn’t stop your miscarriage is because that was the best way He could teach you about His love, sovereignty, and that He really does hear your prayers.  Or perhaps part of the reason God didn’t give you the gift of organization, knowing it would drives you husband crazy, is because if he doesn't learn how to deal with messes now he would have walked out when your twin babies start walking.

I think keeping an eternal perspective is realizing that in Heaven we won’t have to brush our teeth, so it really doesn’t matter if we squeeze the toothpaste tube from opposite ends for the few years we have together here on the Earth.  What does matter is those who will be worshiping the Lord with us while we are there.  This is why Carolyn and I have a desire to work in Bible translation.  Because in 100 years, when we are dead, what will really matter is the people who were reached with the Gospel and were provided with the opportunity to read and learn about the Lord in a language they can clearly understand.  That is the eternal perspective that we want to have.

God, I pray that you help us to view the world and the struggles we face every day from your eternal perspective.  Not ours.  I pray that you allow us to screen look a little bit from your end of things.  I pray that you give us the strength to pursue you and your purpose for our life.  Forgive us of that which we allowed to distract us from you, reveal that to us and give us the strength to give that up for the sake of honoring and pursuing you.  After all, we gotta walk!