By the time you read this, another Christmas will be done and dusted. Some of you will have delighted the recipients of your thoughtful and inspired gifts, while others of you will have raced to the convenience store on Christmas Eve to snag cheap boxes of chocolate-covered cherries for the less-than-delighted people on your list.
It’s sometimes a strain on the old noggin to come up with good gifts, so I love it when an excellent idea alights, seemingly from out of nowhere, on my brain. These epiphanies are essential if I’m to find anything for my husband, who typically says he doesn’t want or need anything. Some years I surrender to his incomprehensible contentedness and we make a no-gift pact. But not this year, because this year I felt inspired.
I must say I’ve hit some homeruns over the years when it comes to buying gifts for my hubs. A bed liner for his truck and a large telescope come to mind. Those presents completely surprised him, displayed an impressive understanding of his interests, and required considerable stealth and effort on my part to pull off.
This year’s gift may not end up at the top of the rankings, but I’m hopeful it will at least place in the top five.
So, what am I giving Joe this year? (Cue drumroll.)
An aerial drone equipped with a high-def camera! (Cue triple cymbal crash.)
I’m writing this before Christmas Day, so I don’t know this for sure, but I think Joe will like a drone because first and foremost, it’s an electronic gadget and I’ve yet to meet one of those he doesn’t like. I’m hoping he’ll think it’s great fun to send his little gadget soaring over our rural homestead.
As I was researching drones, it occurred to me how nice it would be if our brains were equipped with a camera that would automatically give us a birds-eye view of our lives.
During difficult times, my angst and anxiety escalate when I hunker down in the pit I’m in and refuse to look over its edge. Right when I most need to see my circumstances from God’s broad, eternal perspective, it seems hardest to make myself do that.
If, however, I tell my emotions they’re not the boss of me and I ask God to show me His take on my circumstances, He’s always faithful to do that, which never fails to lower my stress and increase my hope.
Leaning on our own limited sight and understanding is like trying to figure out what a 10,000-piece jigsaw puzzle should look like when all we can see is one small piece.
When Joe flies his drone, he should be able to see the trails that snake through our wooded property. Sitting in our house, you’d never know those trails exist, but they’re visible from the sky. And so it is with our lives. It may look to us like there’s no way through our problems, but God sees what we can’t. And if we ask, He promises to show us where to step next:
“Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left (Isaiah 30:21).”
“The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9).”
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you (Psalms 32:8).”
Only God, through His Spirit and Word, can provide the drone-like perspective on our lives that gives us wisdom, peace and hope. It’s one of so many blessings God offers if we receive the first, greatest Christmas gift ever—the gift of Jesus Christ.