My husband is an optometrist. He spends his days helping people to see clearly.

So vision and clarity – in the natural and the spiritual – are things we talk about a lot.

And I’m thinking:

As you crest the last hill and head for Christmas – looking ahead – facing forwards – barrelling on – mobilized by the momentum of a frenetic year – maybe you could –

Stop for just a minute.

Pause to process.

And look back.

My aunt-slash-mentor, Pam Ferreira, took these two photos, seconds apart, in Namaqualand earlier this year. She was standing in exactly the same spot: facing forwards (photo 1) – and then looking back (photo 2).  These flowers are born smart. They know to face the sunshine. And if you’re also facing the sunshine, you can’t see their full, fiery brilliance. You have to look back to see their splendour.

If you’ve got your eyes fixed on the path ahead – you’re facing the Son for strength and  putting one foot in front of the other to finish well because well you should – you might be struggling to see the point of it all.

You know you’re leaving in your wake a year of ups and downs and life happening in fantastic, gruelling, disappointing or serendipitous ways. But the beauty of it – the faith that God will use All The Things for His glory and your ultimate good – escapes you.

I’m praying there would be moments this week for you to catch your breath, and turn around for the view.

I pray God would give you 20/20 vision to see the victories and convictions and adventures and thousands of laughs and hugs and people crammed rich and colourful into seconds, minutes and months.

I pray you’d be reminded that God can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power at work within us. He imagines from seed the bright miracles of petals and tall trees. And He imagined from eternity past the masterpiece of you, preparing the good paths He’s called you to walk.

Keep on keeping on.

Every now and then, look back.

. . .

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