A WORD FOR TODAY, October 18, 2024
Peggy Hoppes
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Blessings. Peg
A WORD FOR TODAY, October 18, 2024
“From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.’” Matthew 16:21-23, WEB
We seek God, and sometimes He seems elusive even though He is always nearby. Sometimes He is blocked by something in this world, keeping us from seeing Him clearly.
The animals were not the only thing that was elusive for us during our vacation. We enjoyed visiting Grand Teton, but we barely saw the Tetons! There are serious wildfires in Wyoming and Idaho. The haze was noticeable in the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone, but we could still see the animals, river, and mountains. The smoke was far worse farther south in Jackson Hole.
There is an iconic photo that many camera buffs try to capture when they are in Wyoming. At the southern end of Jackson Hole (the valley between the Teton Range and the Gros Ventre Range) is a historic site where Mormon homesteaders settled. Though largely abandoned, many of the barns and houses that were built in the late nineteenth century continue to stand, making Mormon Row a picturesque place. There are two barns that are perfectly located so that when the morning sun rises over the Gros Ventre Range, the sun shines off the Teton mountains behind the buildings. As the sun rises higher in the sky, the barns almost glow.
We rose well before sunrise on the coldest morning of our trip to drive about fifteen miles to Mormon Row. It was just 20 degrees out there in the open grasslands. The smoke was so thick that we would not have known where the mountains were located if we didn’t know which direction to look. I talked to a young couple from France who were there to get “the” photo, but they didn’t know where to look. I pointed to the mountains and toward the sunrise and told them that it would be a disappointing day. Even the sun was invisible behind the smoke until it rose high enough in the sky, but it just looked like a red ball hanging above the buildings. They were going to be in the area a few more days and said that they would be back. Despite not getting “the” photo of sun lighting up the mountains, I was able to take some shots that had an almost ethereal feel. It was different, but beautiful
We were frustrated throughout our two days in Grand Teton. There were moments when the wind blew through the valley, and we could just see the tops of the mountains. There were other times when the smoke settled, and we could barely see the outline. We drove to the top of one mountain that is supposed to have a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the park, but it was disappointing. The mountains, like so many other times during our trip, were elusive, but unlike the animals, it was because smoke was blocking our view.
When it seems like you can’t find God, have you thought about what might be distracting you from seeing Him? It won’t be smoke from wildfires, but it might be sin, unrepentant hearts, and a lack of love for others prevents us from “seeing” Him. Distractions include the busy-ness of life, our jobs and families, our selfish desires and unfulfilled needs. Greed and self-focus clouds our vision. Even familiarity can make it difficult for us to see God as He is. Sometimes we just don’t know where to look.
Jesus didn’t think Peter was Satan, but Peter was unable to see Jesus as He is. Jesus wanted Peter to put aside that which made the reality of God elusive to him. What in your life is standing in the way of your view of God? What is keeping you from knowing Him as He is? What changes to your life do you need to make so that you are facing the right way to see Him? God is always there, even if you can’t see Him. Look past the distractions, set them aside, do what you can to embrace the reality of His presence. He’s not elusive, but we can’t always see what we think we want to see. Maybe we’ll see something just as wonderful.
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