A Lens Adjustment

Sometimes doctors give you good news. This doctor’s appointment was not without good news.  In fact, it was without bad news.  But I had trouble focusing on that because of the Other News the doctor gave us.  Healing would come, he thought, with a little work, a little change and a little patience.  I didn't want a little work or change. I didn't want a follow-up appointment six weeks from now.  I just wanted this to be fixed.  So, even though there wasn't any bad news or expensive news, I left the office thinking only of the Other News: a little work, a little change and a follow-up appointment.

Be careful what you focus on. 

“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’  Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!’  Nathanael said to him, ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’ Nathanael answered him, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!’  Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe?  You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’   John 1:45-51

Some of us see the glass half-empty.  I am one of those.  I focus in on details which signal things probably won’t end well and should be different.  So, when Philip informs Nathanael that he found the Messiah and then invites him to meet him, I identify with Nathanael’s response.  ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’  He is not convinced that this guy Philip is so excited about will amount to anything. Why?  He zeros in on the unlikely town of Nazareth.  I can’t blame him.  Israel had waited for the Messiah for 400 years.   Maybe Israel had strayed too far.  Maybe hope was out of reach.  The present didn't look good and the future didn't look better.  Nazareth?  No.  Maybe Help would not come.

But Nathanael follows Philip to Jesus anyway.  He probably thought of Nazareth the whole trip, listing all the reasons why it was the wrong place for anyone significant to be from.  Philip should have realized this.  Maybe Nathanael is even rehearsing his “I told you so” as they walk.  How could someone like Nathanael continue to hope?  Then, Jesus calls out to him as they arrive.  And Nathaniel asks, “How do you know me?” Jesus says that he has seen him underneath the fig tree.  He knows what went on there.  No one else knew.   And Nathanael believes! 

But, Jesus questions, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you wonder the fig tree,’ do you believe?  You will see greater things than these….Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’”  After all the coming, seeing, telling, following and believing that has happened since Jesus came on the scene, why is He not completely satisfied with Nathanael’s belief? 

This was the passage.  This was the question I pondered on the day of the doctor’s appointment.  As I drove home, still grumpy about the Other News, I thought about Nathanael and Jesus some more.

Nathanael zeroed in on the amazing truth that he was known by Jesus as he could be known and understood by no other.  That is something to rejoice over!  But Jesus knew that Nathanael needed even more.  He needed a Savior, a Way to Life with God. So, Jesus refers back to Israel’s beginnings.  He zooms out and reaches far back in history.  He says, Nathanael, I know you.  Yes, that is important.  But don’t stop there.  Keep watching.  Like Jacob, you will see the heavens opened!  I am the Way to restoring the relationship with God that was lost.

Be careful what you focus on.

 Have I been looking through my zoom lens for too long? Is it possible that, when focusing solely on the presence or absence of small miracles and provisions in life, I run the risk of thinking God too small or relying on faith that is too weak?

Jesus knows our every thought and sees our smallest, most secret needs.  But Jesus invites me to look beyond those.  I am saved to Life beyond circumstances, Life with Jesus.  Not only does He know me, but I can know Him.  Making my way home, I decided.  I cannot do it myself, so I looked up asked Jesus to re-adjust my lens.

 ‘Lord, what do You want me to focus on?’  You will see greater things than these.  

It's About the Tomatoes

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control..."
                                     Galatians 5:22, 23

Today I uprooted my favorite tomato plant ever.  It is November, and winter really is around the corner.  The time had come to cut the plant down.  I took my time, more time than I imagine a real gardener would.  First, I picked all the tomatoes that had ripened, despite chilly temperatures.  I was surprised at how many big, beautiful cherry tomatoes there were.  Then, I began clipping vines.  I worked in small sections, discovering hidden ripe tomatoes, tossing away empty vines, and carefully saving green tomatoes.  (They will sit in the garage and continue to ripen.)

As I slowly made my way through the bush, I noticed that the best tomatoes came from vines tangled up in the small tree that the plant had grown into.  The tree seemed to sigh in relief each time I clipped and carefully disengaged a vine from its slender branches.  It was more than ready to see the plant go.  I uncovered the tomato cage which had proved inadequate.  I discovered morning glory pervasively trying to choke the plant.  But ripe tomatoes tangled into the weed, regardless.   I rediscovered sprinklers, and worn out flowers that had been covered up with tomato vines for months.  And I continued to work.

As much as I love this silly plant, I realized that my concern was not for the vines, but for the fruit.  I did not preserve any of the leaves, vines or roots, but I cared very much about saving the tomatoes.  The tomatoes were important.  My plant seemed to know this.  Tomatoes grew everywhere, in the midst of weeds, along the ground in the dirt, in the middle of the tomato cage, and all the way up the vines through the tree.  They grew regardless of their surroundings.  The vine was created to produce tomatoes, and it did. 

The Hebrew word “glory” means “to add weight to.”  The Greek word means to “give praise and honor.” I have been thinking about what “glory” looks like in my Christian life all week.  And I don’t have a firm handle on it.  Still, something struck a chord as I lifted heavy clusters of tomatoes out of the tree.  Maybe glorifying God has to do with living as I was designed to live and doing what I am called to do, regardless of my surroundings and circumstances or potential distractions.  Could I glorify God simply by producing the fruit He is growing me to produce? And not just a little fruit, but a lot of fruit.  Consistent fruit.  I am put on this earth to glorify God.  It is not about my happiness, my comfort, my agenda, or my contributions to the world.  If I were a plant, I would be a Glorify God Plant.  And I would need to produce Glory To God Fruit.  My tomato plant knew…and I believe my tree knows, too…it’s all about the fruit.

"By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Abide in my love."
                    John 15:8-9