Looking for Mermaids

     Columbus, upon sighting 3 mermaids on this day in 1493 said ,"They are not half as beautiful as painted." Most experts feel what Columbus likely sighted were either manatees, or movie stars without their makeup. 

     I don't know about you, but I have many "mermaids" in life. My expectations so far outshine the reality that in their wake, I can only bob in disappointment. Conversely, when I have no hope, no expectation, no vision of what could be, everything is better than dreamed of. I find this to be a very perplexing dilemma in life. I have always been taught to reach for the stars, set the bar high, seek perfection...but doesn't that inevitably set me up for discontent, even despair?? I am not quite sure how to reconcile the two. I can no longer toddle forth wide-eyed with inexperienced wonder and greet every event as a glorious surprise. I want to...but I don't know how to see the world without expectation of what it should hold.

     Maybe that's why we should never close ourselves off from babies. Old people especially need to be around babies. Cynical people, people who think life is grim and hopeless, downtrodden weary people, hopeless people all need to be around babies. They need to see babies as they first dangle a toe in the ocean, or pet a dog, or see a butterfly, or an ant. To look on life with fresh eyes and remember the wonder of first encountering it is the surest antidote to complacency and despair I know, and I believe it is one of the ways we keep our eyes on Jesus.

     One of my favorite verses is: keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.  There it is again, that dispiriting idea of perfection. Not only do we need to stretch for perfection in life, but perfection in faith? Impossible! But, we are not the ones responsible for the perfection of our faith. Here is where grammar comes in handy. The noun that is being modified is Jesus. The direct objects that modify Jesus are "author" and "perfecter." While we are the subject in the sentence, and the verb tells us we are to "keep" our eyes on Jesus, it is Jesus who will perfect our faith...not us. It is implied that if we do our part in that sentence, keep our eyes on Him, He will do His part, perfect our faith.

     And then, while we are busy keeping our eyes on Jesus, it might be easier to enter the kingdom of God like newborn babes, another compelling verse in the Bible. Even the disciples scratch their heads over this one...how can grown men be like babies...be born again? Jesus tells them this is not the work of men, but of God.

     I am happy about this transfer of responsibility. I can try to temper expectations, and I can try to gaze on each moment anew, but I can guarantee that in five minutes, or less, I will fail. But if I can just focus on that one thing...keeping my eyes where they belong, my faith will be perfected, all things will be made new, and manatees will still not be mermaids, but beautiful nonetheless.

Psalm 16:8 NIV

I keep my eyes always on the Lord.

With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Hebrews 12:2 NIV

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Matthew 18:1-3 NIV

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.