May, 2007 

Sightlines … 

"Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law" (Psalm 119:18)

As a short person, the most frustrating thing for me about going to a movie, concert or some live performance is trying to find a seat where I can see!  Since I am already “vertically challenged,” it is very easy for someone to get in the way of my sightline.  And it always seems to happen that if I do get a good seat, one minute before the show, someone with big hair or the stature of a linebacker sits right in front of me.☺

At the Pastoral Leadership Institute conference that Rachelle and I attended in Houston last month, the topic was “Sightlines.”  The point being that whether we are leading a congregation or we are leading our neighbor to Christ, we must first have a clear sightline to God himself.  If we are to direct people's focus to the cross, then we must ourselves have Christ's sacrifice for us central in our view.  One preacher, whose message was "Seeing Clearly, Leading Boldly," stated it well.  He said, “You cannot lead to what you cannot see."  And so we as the Church pray with the psalmist, "open my eyes, Lord."  We ask God to give us a vivid sense of His calling on our lives so that we may see Him clearly and follow him boldly, even as we are leading others to the cross.

Another pastor who spoke told us of a time when his son served as a missionary in Africa.  His son observed that when the gazelles got frightened, none of the other animals moved.  Or when a flock of birds was startled, none of the other animals seemed to be affected.  However when the giraffes began to run, the other animals immediately fled.  Why?  You guessed it – the giraffes are the first to see approaching danger.  Their towering necks allow them to see what the other animals are missing.  May the time that you and I spend in the Word and in prayer lift our eyes above the crowd to see what the world around us is missing.  May we see the Lord so clearly that our vision of Him calms our hearts, charts our course and propels us into ministry.  And may our sightline to the Lord be free from obstruction and distraction.

“See” you in ministry!

Pastor Augie