Seeing With Fresh Eyes

I woke up this morning unusually anxious about what I should write in my blog this morning. I thought round several ideas; nothing seemed right. I knew I had a busy morning planned. I worried a little more and went back to sleep.

I awoke a little later, thought though other stuff. It still made no sense. The phrase came ‘See with fresh eyes.’

Stephen, a retired minister, preached at church yesterday on the well-known parable of the sower. He explained to me how when he retired he threw away all his old sermons.  40 years’ worth took up a lot of shelf space! Stephen didn’t read some old sermon he’d preached before. He came to the story with fresh eyes.

For many years the Lowestoft Sanyo factory produced televisions, providing employment for many local people. Fifteen years ago the factory closed; the site has remained vacant…

There’s a proposal that 350 new homes are to be built on the former factory site. Shrewd developers are seeing the prime waterfront site with fresh eyes…

I’ve heard many sermons on the sower. He sows the seed… four types of soil… path, rock, thorns, good…four different harvest results. Pretty predictable. Stephen’s fresh eyes focused on just one verse… the seed falling on thorns… those who are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures.

Stephen talked about how focusing on our anxieties, money, possessions and enjoyment can prevent our growth as people and as Christians…

I’m reflecting on how the way spend my money, and enjoy myself this summer… and on my worries and anxieties – particularly early in the morning. Are they weeds, choking my development and growth, or are they enhancing and encouraging my health and usefulness?

I think of advice that I’ve give to others about new relationships after failing marriages, long on-going health problems, coping with children growing up, facing difficult work issues… I’ll often encourage looking at difficult situations through fresh eyes.

With God’s help I need to follow my own advice.