Step Back and Look Up
by Julie Overlease, August 1, 2020
Ahhh, what joy we experience during rare moments of clarity. Sometimes my family goes to a track surrounded by the upper section of trees. I find it an incredibly peaceful setting. Add some sunshine, a mild temperature with a gentle breeze, and I’m one happy woman. By some measures, I’m also old. Even though I suck wind, want to throw myself on the track not far into any sprint race, and get routinely smoked by all of my children, there is something invigorating about running as fast as I can. I kind of enjoy occasionally making my heart pound, lungs heave and muscles burn. Sprinting makes me feel alive and strong and youthful. And, unlike Robbie, I can do it without pulling a groin!
We went to the track this morning. As I walked alone to catch my breath and cool down after running, I looked up ahead and marveled at the sky. God nailed it when he made our skies. They are everchanging works of divine art. The clouds were puffy, billowy and beautiful. I examined them as I kept slowly walking, deliberate in my attempt to enjoy that moment of solitude and take in God’s stunning creation. A sound from one of my children across the way diverted my gaze as I proceeded onward.
Twenty, thirty, maybe forty steps later I looked ahead again. This time, the green tree tops blocked the view of the low hanging clouds I had so recently admired. I felt taken aback. That which had delighted me was gone, and yet – I knewit was truly still there – only hidden by the trees. I was too close.
Life is rather complicated at this present moment in history. Schools are formulating elaborate re-opening plans with multiple learning-model phases, and everyone must be prepared to pivot at a moment’s notice. And that is simply one tiny piece of the puzzle that is America right now.
It struck me that much may be gained when we widen our gaze and back up from the minutia of all-consuming details. The details matter and have important value, but we must remember to breathe, to cool down, to look up and ahead at the big picture. If we focus in too tightly on our own complicated circumstances or complaints, we will not be able to see the sky for the trees. I want to see the white clouds, just as I want to see what remains good and beautiful in our world. I will resist the temptation to let myself feel paralyzed when the logistics of executing what was once considered normal life make my head spin. I’ll remember my ultimate goal isn’t getting out of this crazy 2020/2021 academic year with sanity intact, although that would be nice, but heaven. I’ll have faith and pray for peace of heart and mind. We have the ability to choose to adjust our gaze to take in the magnitude and splendor of the sky with trust that God is in control. One step at a time, I believe he’ll walk with us.