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| A GLANCE AND A GAZE by Dale Freeman As I sit precariously perched on the edge of a new year, I remember the words of some unknown fellow pilgrim. "Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see." It's true. Looking back is easy. As I glance over my shoulder, I see 2001 sprawled in my wake, and I instinctively know that there are some things that I must leave behind. A few dreams, an occasional defeat, and a victory or two. None of them will do me much good in the coming year. Some of the dreams will have to be re-dreamed, while others will simply need to be set aside. The defeats, once obvious lessons have been learned, are of no value, and will only hamper my forward momentum. Even the victories are useless to me now. There are more battles to fight ahead, and more victories to win. You can't carry old ones along with you. They belong to the past, and that's where they should stay. I also leave my mother behind. Well, not really. Actually, she is ahead of me, standing in the presence of the Jesus that I can still only hope to see face to face. She is ageless and timeless now, and so I will meet her again, not in the past, but in the reality of the eternal future that I have preached about all of my adult life. While 2001 is clear from this vantage point, I can't say the same about 2002. It is dark and unknown. Not only can I not see what will happen on any given day, but I can't even predict what might take place the second after I write these words. But the beauty of the thing is that I don't have to see events yet unborn. The God who loved me enough to send His Son is already there, and I will arrive no place that He hasn't already been. The only things I have to fear are those beyond the power of God. And, of course, the only thing truly beyond His power is my will. He will force me to do nothing. I must of my own volition trust, surrender, commit and follow. Only in the center of His perfect will can I discover freedom, safety and fruitfulness. So, when you look ahead into the unknown, how well can you see? It's important to have good vision, you know. John Ruskin said, "For every thousand men who can talk, there is only one man who can think, and for every thousand men who can think, there is only one man who can see." Want to clearly see the future? Then, see the presence of a loving, gracious God. See Him...follow Him...and don't be afraid of the dark! |
