As I Look Out the Window

One of the great benefits of having an office here at First Christian Church is the windows that look out of the office. My first office had been a “last minute” conversion of what had been planned to be a classroom. The architect had followed the request of that congregation to add more classroom space to the new building. However, he had done so by overlooking any space for the pastor or the secretary. Therefore there was no office space at all in the church building. My office had not one single window and being slightly claustrophobic, this caused some difficulties.

Windows are wonderful things to have. They let you sit behind them and be able to view all the things on the other side in comfort and sometimes with protection. I have always loved those big picture windows that you find in homes or large office spaces. Some even give a panoramic view of some splendid view of God’s world. For our 25th wedding Anniversary, Carrie, Conner and I went to the restaurant atop the “Tower of America” in San Antonio Texas. It is one of those revolving restaurants and turns one complete revolution every 30 minutes. The view from the restaurant was spectacular as the city vista spread out below.

But windows can show a darker side also. If you have ever been in one of the many jails or prisons that exist, you have seen the thick glass windows that allow guards to watch the men or women behind them. From the window of our cars we can either see the grand views of mountains, lakes, sea shores and fields of wheat or we can see the homeless of our big cities. We can see a lot through our windows.

As Christians, windows are sometimes God’s way of letting us see the world around us. They are, however, not there to separate us from that same world. While they may allow us to see this world, they should not be some sort of barrier to us from participating in the world. We must be able to open up the window and either pass through or go around it so that we can be a part of the world. It is far too easy to sit behind those wonderful windows and let the world pass around us without any thought being given to what is going on outside of our window.

Jesus taught his disciples to be involved in the world around them. You must feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in hospital and those in prisons. We are not to let anything come in our way from those around us. We are called to walk among the creations of God’s world and to interact with it.

While you look out your windows this week, recall that you are suppose to get outside and be a part of the world in what ever means that you can.

Praying for you as I hope you are praying for me

-Craig