I always look the same way in the morning. Outside my window, just to the right of due East is the best view of the sunrise from my house. Straight ahead is a bank of trees which block my view, but the the right? The trees have graciously held back from growing in that space, so I can sneak the tiniest view of the water below.

For years, I’ve looked to this side. Countless photos of beautiful colors – a testament to the morning greeting of our Creator – grace my social media feeds. One view. To the right.

My husband washed the windows yesterday. Not just the inside, but the outside too – he’s a dang hero. I was taking my coffee outside this morning and had to run in for something from my bedroom on the second floor. As I walked into our room, my attention was demanded through our incredibly clean windows by the view of the sunrise from the second story. What was strange is my attention was demanded by the view on the other side. 

I was struck first by the colors – there were more colors on this side than I could see on the usual side. Then the brightness – it was like a blazing fire had been lit behind trees I had ignored until today. This view is not unobstructed, which is why I have avoided it, but I am seeing today that it is incredibly beautiful.

Not unobstructed.

I wonder how often in my life I choose the unobstructed way and miss something truly beautiful. There is such beauty in contrast, in conflict. Sometimes, the looming giant of a tree in our path – the thing we named nuisance, inconvenient, painful, even enemy – is the perfect frame for the masterpiece God is working out before our eyes.

I wonder how often I choose to look in the same direction because it is easier, clearer, and more reliable.

How many moments have I missed on mornings like this? How many conversations, new insights, encouragements, healing opportunities, and new challenges have I missed in my life because I don’t look the other way?

Today, I am praying that God would draw our eyes to things – to people, to wisdom, to purpose – that have been unseen, not because they have not been there, but because we have not looked for them.

Today, I am choosing to look the other way.

Jesus said:

“That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see.
They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand . . .” Matthew 13:13

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.” Matthew 13:16-17