Remember that Look

Off key piano recitals. Hockey games where little kids trip over each other and fall into a big pile and yet the puck does not move. School plays where no one can hear a word that the actors are saying because they are speaking so quickly and so softly. Based solely on execution, these things are disasters. To an outsider, they are likely a complete waste of time.

However, turn your eyes away from the performance and look at the faces of the parents, grand-parents and friends who are sitting in the crowd. Here you find smiles, not frowns. You sense anticipation instead of dread. Rather than “booing”, you hear thunderous applause and (at least at the hockey game) shouts of encouragement.

You see, when parents watch their children, the pride is in the attempt. You cheer the effort if not always the result. Parents and grand-parents see things differently, because they love the performer.

So let me ask you this: How do you think God sees you?

Hopefully, from the drift of this article (or even better, from your own
experience with him), you know the answer to that question, but let me spell it out just in case: God does not need you to be perfect; rather he wants you to try. God does not celebrate our skill as much as our effort. We do not have to “prove ourselves” because he loves us in the first place.

So forget waiting until you are “perfect” before you decide to do what God has asked of you. Take a risk. Try to make a difference. Commit yourself to God and then live your life as a reflection of his love and grace. You never know what God might do with your effort.

If nothing else, watching you try will make God smile.

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21)

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