Look and See

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:2a)

I was recently told the story of a boy at a school assembly. Overcome with nerves as he went to say his lines, he started to cry. It seemed likely he would have to leave the stage without being able to deliver his lines, embarrassed, slumped. But then out of the audience came the Deputy Principal. Kneeling in front of him, she calmly, quietly and kindly said “Look at me. Look only at me.” The boy looked at her. The audience disappeared from his view, he forgot them, he forgot his nerves and while keeping his eyes fixed on her, he went on to deliver all his lines.

Circumstances can sometimes seem overwhelming. I certainly thought that this morning when 3 boys were in the car ready to head to school only to find the battery was flat. Enough to make one sit on the sidewalk and cry myself. But it’s at these times that Jesus steps out from the crowd and says to us “Look at me.” And when we fix our eyes on Jesus the overwhelming circumstances shrink. Strength comes. Grace comes.

And for me, today, well, Jesus was seen in the response of my mother who on receiving the “help me call” put her agenda aside to come and collect a stranded family. She who arrived with a big dose of grace, of peace and of care.

One can’t help but remember the words to the song Turn your eyes upon Jesus….

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.