With Sincerity

When was the last time you played with a kaleidoscope? Hands down the kaleidoscope was one of the most sought-after toys when I was in grade school. Don’t come for me. I promise all my marbles are present. Seriously, I’m speaking truth. Granted, I was in grade school over 40 years ago, but I can recall entering my first-grade classroom every day with massive anticipation to get to the toy box just for the kaleidoscope, and it wasn’t just me. Boy or girl, there was something magical, mysterious, and awesomely beautiful about this cylindrical instrument that brought to life intricate designs in the light. The more intent my gaze became as I kept it raised in the light, the more patterns I saw, and the more reflections appeared to be new each time I turned it. With every faithful gaze, I understood more clearly its purpose. It was a delight to get lost in the wonderment of how this toy could do what it was doing.

What do we faithfully gaze upon that gives us the type of astonishment the kaleidoscope gave me? Is it our cars, bank accounts, closets full of clothes or shoes? Is it the number of followers we have on our social media platforms, our aspirations, or those who have what we want? Truly, where do we place our attention that gives us inspiration and makes us full of faith? It is a little sad that as we age, we lose the willingness to be moved or impressed with the simple things like reflections in a bottle. Too often we spend our energy leaning into fear and planning for the worst or seeing how we can get more of what we really don’t need. Better yet, too often we spend our energy filling our lives with things that will soon lose its luster and expire. Forgive me if I sound like an old, defeatist man who wishes we could just go back to simple pleasures like staring into a kaleidoscope. I guess I kind of am.

The point isn’t to relive childhood and lose sight of our responsibilities. The point is to fix our eyes on what truly matters. Find that faithful gaze into inexhaustible possibilities. The writers of Hebrews (a book in the Bible) challenged Christians to consider Jesus, who they professed to be the object of their faith. The writer reminded them that Christ is faithful, more faithful than the prophets of old. We, too, should be reminded that fear, loneliness, doubt, disappointment, or failures are not obstacles to believing, but reminders that we need someone and something to believe in, to gaze with fascination and trust. Yes, we live in a world of hurt but amidst the hurt we can, and do, experience immense pleasure and joy. Life’s frustrations and agitations are gentle reminders of our limitations and reason to desperately fix our eyes on the One who can handle life’s complexities, while being kind enough to give us wisdom, patience, and confidence to navigate them. With every look at Christ, purpose becomes clearer and the delight of one who would give his all for our security in eternity is worthy of an unending gaze.

With Sincerity,

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