Restricted View

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How tall can a tree grow in a month?  I asked myself this question as I sat at my table and looked out the window.  Before we went away for our month-long holiday I could see the rolling hills as I sat here, now with the summer rain and heat, a couple of trees have grown and are obstructing a lot of my view.  Although they are pretty in themselves, they hinder my vision to the inspiring quaintness that is our country town.

We chose this place because of the view. It calms the soul and quietens the spirit, helping me settle into that-still-place to pray and contemplate. Those trees would be very welcome were they blocking out a brick wall or being used as a privacy screen, but they are obscuring something more significant and beautiful and inspiring.  Something much bigger than themselves.  

Despite their beauty, they shall have to be cut back.

Pondering this little observation, I began to wonder what things in my life may have developed and now dominates my vision, obscuring the vision of what God has placed in front of me?  What hobbies or pursuits or concerns have grown to such an extent that I no longer see beyond them?

Good things, beautiful in their own right, but are they blocking my vision to the bigger picture?  Blocking the possibilities of what God may want me to investigate. Blocking the broader scale of what’s out there beyond my comfortable little world. Things that may call to me – to explore; to venture their paths and avenues; to learn about and to serve in.

Maybe our now-blocking-my-view trees were planted for the joy they bring, but we didn’t expect them to grow so big and take over our lives.  Maybe it’s time to trim them back so that we can see clearly again the big picture of what God has called us to do.

It’s all too easy to get sidetracked with pleasurable hobbies and pursuits and allow them to dominate our thinking and take up all our time.  By all means, let us explore and develop our creativity and joys, but make sure they don’t keep us from seeing beyond them to the bigger vista that God may want us to observe and explore.  Maybe they are meant to be part of the landscape that is our life – even a big part – but they are not meant to be the whole scene.  God is bigger and more awesome than one or two trees – and so our lives are bigger than one or two enterprises.

Then again maybe we have just got bogged down in the details of one aspect of life. Busyness and detailed focus can be draining. Maybe it’s time to look up and cast our eyes to the hills and regain a sense of purpose for the things we are doing.  You recall, I’m sure, the old saying  “can’t see the forest for the trees”.  Maybe it’s a valid message for us today.

Then again maybe our “bushes” were planted deliberately to cover the unbearable rawness of pain and hurt.  

Or maybe they just randomly grew and we prefer them to the ugliness that is our life due to not dealing with issues.  

There is nothing wrong with pursuing ways to help move on after the death of a loved one, or a huge disappointment, or an abusive situation, or some other crisis.  Sooner or later though, we will need to trim down or cut out those pursuits or habits if they hinder us from seeing and pursuing the awesome life that God intends for us.  

Don’t let life throw up obstacles to block the bigger picture of why we are here.  

What were you created for?  Why are you here, in this place, at this time for?

Trim down, or get rid of, those “trees” that restrict your view.

See the bigger picture.

Be inspired and regain the vision before you.

Seeing the bigger picture opens your eyes to what is the truth.  –  Wadada Leo Smith

The busyness of life can keep you running from one activity to the next. If you never step back to consider whether all those activities are really how you want to spend your time, you could miss out on building the kind of life you want. Devote at least 10 minutes each day to examining the bigger picture in your life.  – Amy Morin.

A small trouble is like a pebble. Hold it too close to your eye and it fills the whole world and puts everything out of focus. Hold it at a proper distance and it can be examined and properly classified. Throw it at your feet and it can be seen in its true setting, just one more tiny bump on the pathway to life  – Celia Luce