I was out driving this morning and at one point, off in the distance, I could see the sun reflecting off the snow capped Olympic Mountains creating the most breathtaking view I’ve seen in a long time. I think many people on the road around me, all with the ability to see the same thing I was seeing, didn’t. Their thoughts were elsewhere… on family, work, frustrations. We live in such a fast paced, self-focused world that even something as simple as a sunrise goes unnoticed by most people.

We wake up each morning and the thought never crosses our mind that today is truly a miracle of creation.  Just the fact that the sun came up is a miracle in and of itself, let alone that a new day is here.  God gives it to us, and we simply take it without question. All the scientists in the world could not reproduce a new day, no matter how hard they tried. It is a true miracle directly from the heart of God to His people.  Yet we take it for granted.  And on top of that, we take all that fills our day for granted too:  the people, the places, the small miracles, the grand displays of splendor.

So why is it that Monday morning when life hits us square between the eyes as we sit in morning rush hour traffic with the boss calling us on the phone needing next weeks report today, that we can’t see the miracle of a new day.  Why is it we can’t experience that miracle when we get news that a close friend or family member is dying?  What is it that turns our head?  Why can’t we take each moment of our day and present it to the Father and ask for His eyes to see as He sees?

We have become a self-focused people.

We think more highly of building up our own name, our own reputation, our own mini-empire, than we do of taking time to focus on God. God is truly all around us in everything we see, do, hear, touch, and smell.  Every one of our senses would go into sensory overload daily with gratitude to God if we could simply get our eyes off of self.

Today, I challenge you to stop and look around you with the heart of God to the world.  Look at your children, your spouse, your friends, and even your enemies through the eyes of God.  Ask God to allow you to see what He sees, to feel what He feels, to overload your senses with His compassion and His vision.  It will amaze you if you will simply take the time.