Missing the Obvious

I should have been working. But it was a “just-right,” hot, lazy day to be in the water. Lake, pool, stream; it didn’t matter as long as it held water. And my son was urging me to play with him.

Reluctantly, I agreed. Quickly dressing in our bathing suits, Rachel, Joey and I trekked the 15 minutes to the beach.

Although my list of “to-dos” niggled at the back of my mind, we had a blast. Laughing, splashing, and creating memories.

However, soon it was time to go home. And for the first time for us at this beach, we headed for the outdoor shower to rinse off.

You see, although we have lived in this very park for more than 15 years and visited the beach many times in those years, I never before realized there was an outdoor shower. (Yes, it had been there all 15). We stumbled upon it today as we skirted around the beach lodge.

In my defense, the shower was located on the back side of the beach lodge, and I rarely went on that side.

Nevertheless, not noticing this important asset to beach-going was quite an oversight, and a little embarrassing to admit.

However, it pales in comparison to the oversight I display when it comes to God’s gifts in my life: He showers me with every imaginable blessing, and I complain about the rain. He pours out His love in buckets, and I hide under an umbrella. He sprinkles grace drops on me regularly, and I dry them off.

The problem appears to be my perspective.

The shower had been there the entire time we lived in the park and I missed it because it was behind the beach lodge. I didn’t take the time to walk around the building to scout it out, to get a better view of it. Therefore, I was blind to its existence.

In my life, I expect God’s blessings to be in the forefront as well. I assume I know what they will look like. They are to be handed to me as pretty little wrapped packages, tied with ribbons and ready for opening.

The error of this thinking is that often His gifts do not look like we expect them to. They may be wrapped with a brown paper bag, or found in the midst of a storm, or in the drab sameness of every day happenings.

After all, the greatest gift of all was found in the mutilated body of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The shower story reminds me that in order to notice and enjoy the Lord’s many blessings to me and His sovereign plan for my life, I need to see things differently.

I may need to wait patiently as God works in and through a situation. I might have to let myself get wet in order to experience the beauty of the season.

Or perhaps I just need to step around to the back of the building.

“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8)

Share in the Discussion: Are you missing God’s obvious gifts in your life due to worry or oversight? Is there a building you need to step around in order to see them? What’s stopping you? How can I pray for you?

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