Perspective

I think I've watch "Back to the Future" more than twenty times in my life. In one of the final scenes, Marty has a request for his parents, who have just sealed the deal with a kiss and dance. Thanks to his marvelous pickin' on his Les Paul.

Oh... one other thing. If you guys ever have kids and one of them when he's eight years old accidentally sets fire to the living room rug... go easy on him.

Marty has gained some perspective since going Back in Time and realizes maybe the carpet going up in flames isn't as important as it seemed in the big picture. He understood that mistake didn't define who he was or who he was going to be.

God has a pretty decent vantage point in that he sees the time line of human history from beginning to end. He sees my life from beginning and to end. More disconcerting than that, he sees my next egregious sin; my next foul tone taken with my wife; my next inexplicable exasperating words to my sons. Yet, in that, he still grants me redemption, not only in and at the Cross, but also in redemptive acts.

I fully know the work has been done and I can add nothing to it. Yet, I cannot help but see God's gracious hand when he gives me opportunities to get outside my self to bless and serve someone else, after I know God can't possibly be forgiven for that again. When that happens, I just say, "Thanks, Lord" and know it is nothing I do on my own.

He provided birds to Elijah, he provides me with someone needing jumper cables.

Andy, with jumper cables

It's almost as if God is giving me the opportunity to feel as if I've redeemed myself with an act. I know that doesn't square with theology; I'm not implying that. What I am implying is God, in his infinite mercy, understands and knows me so well, that he knows I need to feel or work out my redemption, as well as intellectually assenting to the theology of redemption.

So, he gives me opportunities to square his redemptive work with my own Andy-ism.

"Hey, God, it's me again. Yep, I've done it again. Say, could you see fit to allow me to run across someone with a flat or something? Thanks again"

Anyway, back to perspective. If you could go back in time, what would you change? Decisions, for sure!
What if you could go ahead in time? There is no doubt, when you came back, you would have perspective.

Ah, those errors? Coach VanderKamp didn't scold me and berate me. He spit in his hand and shook my hand. Told me it'll happen again, so keep playing. Stay strong.

The righteous man falls seven times, but he gets up again - Prov 24:16

Son, that error you made when you were ten? I should have known better. It was nothing to get worked up over and make the van ride home so miserable you didn't want to play the next day. Yeah, that's not perspective.

That's what God is whispering to me today...perspective.