Seeing Fully

The Wonder of Time; time, to capture or regain, no one can. Swift while drawn out, shadows cast over each life. No one can see it dance across space but its fruit touches each of us. Young ones long for its rhythm to beat quicker and the gray desire a quieter waltz. Tick tock of the clock. Tick tock, a reminder of how powerless we truly are. Towering majestic buildings we have understood, their stucture ornate and Godlike. Mountains we have conquered, oceans we have explored; yet in the end mankind has mastered nothing. But what is it we are to master, if not time?


Fifty candles sat upon the sweet chocolaty goo; my name written in cursive with the warm birthday wishes. Tick tock went the clock. What minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years tick ahead for this still young soul? What remains for the next page? (Remembering chapters are not promised us) What actions can I take to stave off the ticking, or should I even try? I dream to live life fully, to experience each tick with grace and awe. But gray heads don’t dance quickly, they don’t run and play like this soul still craves to do. There is fear of slowing, of getting caught up in the angst of painful joints and loss of hearing; and what's worse, the loss of sight.


Seven billion dollars, Seven Billion American Dollars spent in beauty products each year. A propelling force of fear drives a nation to fight the un-mastered power of time. Are we so vain? Why is the gray so dreaded? Do we think youth is where we live fully and gray is where we go to die? Could it be that life begins not with mastering time but with the mastering of the time we have been given? And so the journey begins. What is living fully? Seduction, gently and deceivingly guides us to believe youth and activity is living life fully. Is it found simply in movement? Is living fully found through action; to live fully, verb or noun, action or attitude?

Old eyes, though eye sight diminishes, can see more clearly. Vision is found in seeing what lies right before us. True living; childlike awe, awaking to the wonders, seeing miracles that otherwise go unnoticed. Conquering mountains can come by opening our eyes to the world around us; finding gratitude in the most unexpected places. Gratitude for the aching feet and slowing joints, gives way to freedom; to live life fully aware of the gifts we have been given. Stop, look and see. In the face of a stranger, a cup of cold water or the laughter of a child; even the tears of heart ache and in the most painful moments of this life we can experience Him. He is the maker of life. For God is found in each of those moments. His gifts are all around us. We don’t age by growing older; we age when we stop acknowledging his gifts, when we stop seeing the wonders of God. In growing gray dreams don’t stop nor does adventure, but growing dull is the greatest thief of life. Dare to explore once again.
God calls us to be grateful in all things. Fifty sits on my face as does the aching of my feet. Perfectionism screams that I must master time, slow it down, and stop it all together. But God’s Grace whispers, “Embrace it.” Embrace it all. For all is a gift of grace. In the pain there is joy when we can give thanks. For the one who does master the clock watches over us and expresses his love in ways we often miss. But they are before us. How he desires to give us adventure, to experience life to the fullest. No, age is not our enemy blindness is.

I can imagine God's voice:


“Open your eyes and see as a child, with the awe you once held for the gifts I have given. Look afresh at the world around you once again and see me smiling back. Be grateful in all things, for that is where I am present and when I can move freely in your life. Circumstance may not be the problem. It may be your vision is lacking. So go on a treasure hunt today and seek my gifts which are waiting for you. See me in all things. Be not afraid to take risks, be not afraid to dream again or to explore the mysteries I have for you. I have great treasures to show you. I long to shower you with love. Simply open your eyes and have the vision to see. Acknowledge my love for you then you have mastered my greatest gift to you, the gift of time.


Love, God

Jesus said, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10