MKLJOY@aol.com
My husband was considering a pastorate of a country church. The couple with whom we were staying overnight took us to see the parsonage. We couldn't believe our eyes! It was an old, partly-whitewashed, pieced-together shack with a tin roof--the most disreputable-looking place we had ever seen!
"It doesn't look like much on the outside," said the parishioner who lived in a lovely ranch house next door, "but it's not too bad on the inside."
"And it does have hot and cold running water and an indoor bathroom," added her husband. At the time we didn't know that was more than some parishioners had!
Then the lady tapped me on the shoulder. "Turn around," she said, "and look!" She waved her arm in a sweeping motion. "Isn't that the most gorgeous view you have ever seen?"
We looked out from that high ridge upon miles and miles of fields, trees, and valleys. "You can even see the next state from here," declared the lady. "And look this other way!"
We did as she suggested. That view almost took our breath away, it was so majestic.
My husband was called and accepted the pastorate. His salary was very low, but farm products such as meat, chicken, and vegetables would be given us by the people. A wood-burning stove in the living room heated the four rooms of the "parsonage." We also had huge black spiders that especially liked the bathroom. And a neighbor killed a 23-rattle rattlesnake in our garden! (Well, at least he got it before I did!)
But oh, the far view! How it thrilled and rested my soul to look out at it any and all seasons! During the winter, the dark outline of trees stood out starkly from the sparkling white snow, with an intensely blue sky overhead. During the spring, wherever one looked, one could see the pink and white blossoms of apple and cherry trees, the lime-green of freshly-budded foliage, and new shoots of corn coming up in the fields. In the summer the corn grew tall, the blackberries and gooseberries in the valley ripened, and cows grazed contentedly. In the fall, the maples were a riot of color as were the sunsets. Yes, the far view was beautiful!
For the person who lives for Jesus Christ, so also is the far view beautiful. "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
If we live for this life only, we may enjoy temporal conveniences and pleasures. But if through reading God's Word we get a glimpse of the glory awaiting those who live for the Lord, then the beautiful far view will keep our eyes on the goal that He has set for us.
And wouldn't we have more peace and joy in our lives if we would get out eyes off present distressing circumstances and rest them on the far view? +
Copyright Muriel Larson (All Rights Reserved)
