Look Up

 

By: Chloe Grabeman

If you know me, it probably didn’t take you too long to realize that coordination is not my most prominent of talents. I’d like to say I’m “uniquely clumsy,” because it’s not the basic things people often lack grace in, I know my way around a dance floor and I am even a decent ice skater. But when it comes to things like walking, I find myself with two left feet. Falling up stairs, tripping on sidewalks, you name it, I have probably run into it or fallen off of it.

A lot of the time it comes when I have something occupying my thoughts. For example, like all hard-working seniors in college, I put off my gen – ed science class until the last moment possible. I decided to take environmental science last fall because all of the labs were outdoors. I didn’t take into account that the only way to get to these outdoor locations was in an incredibly cramped van. So, one day when I was feeling particularly introverted and claustrophobic, I found myself the last one out of the van. In eager attempts to scramble out of the vehicle I was unexpectedly met face to face with the side of the car door, literally. And when I say I ran into this door, I mean this door slightly assaulted me. I hit it so hard that I couldn’t see out of my right eye fully for a solid five minutes. Either by the kindness or pity of God, my act of gracefulness was thankfully not accompanied with a black eye. But it could have been completely avoided if I had done the simplest thing.

So, this week’s blog is nothing super insightful but just some basic advice I wish someone had told me a half a second before I got out of that van.

Look up.

Oftentimes, when the patterns of the world come at us with full force, we can find ourselves “looking down,” both literally and figuratively. When we get caught up in the whirl of life we find our mindset focused on the one thing that God is not doing and missing all the blessings of the present.

Hitting a metaphorical van door if you will.

Psalm 19 reveals how the simple act of looking up can change our outlook from panic to peace in the ways God speaks to us through his creation.

“The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”

Taking a moment to notice the beauty of Gods creation has a way of reminding us how small we are, how small our problems and priorities are, and how endless God is in all of his ways. That he is working around us and within us to show us his love, care, and relief.

Let your actions of looking up serve as moments of surrender where you have taken control. This life was never meant to be lived on our own strength but in continual reliance on him.

Song List:

Running into Freedom – Will Reagan

Running in Circles  – United Pursuit

God Alone (Psalm 62) – Will Reagan

Come to the River – Housefires

Undivided Focus – Heather Clark

Vapor – The Liturgists

Keep Your Head Up – Ben Howard (if you need a jam song ;))

Check them out on the Real and True Playlist on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/user/128815512/playlist/3YfqgeMjEUj7ZB8ydKd5qL