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May 2014
The bear was minding its own business, walking through what no doubt seemed to him an odd forest, with concrete and cars where moss and trees should be. The man was minding his own business, too, riveted to the screen of his phone as he walked through the parking lot. An unusual grunting sound finally made him look up, and both Bear and Man quickly went their separate ways. Chances are Man will never simultaneously walk and text again; I can't presume to know Bear's plans.
This "viral" video from a couple of years ago made lots of people laugh; how many did it make think? I'm not here to reprimand you for excessive phone use (but if the shoe fits...); rather, I'd like you to think about how often you truly look up as you go about your day, even as I confess my own shortcomings:
Today I visited a store with windows covered in GOING OUT OF BUSINESS signs. Did I look up from the marked-down price tags into the faces of the soon-to-be-out-of-work employees? No. Did I look up with anything but frustration when the embarrassed woman in front of me at the checkout tried one credit card after another, but all had reached their limit? No. Later, sitting in a waiting room, did I look up from my magazine at the woman who was crying as she finished her phone call? No.
Not one of my more compassionate days. Not a good example of following Jesus' example. Jesus was always looking up. Sometimes he did so literally, as when he told Zacchaeus to get out of the tree and make him some dinner. Sometimes he looked up by looking down, to see who had touched his robe. Jesus always knew when people were in need of his compassion, and he did something about it.
You and I may never be in danger of being startled by a bear because our minds are elsewhere, but we miss so much by not looking up. We miss beauty, we miss opportunities to serve, we miss the abundance of life. Please, look up.
Church of the Brethren | 1451 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, Illinois 60120
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