Here’s Mud in Your Eye - Alan Wright Ministries

Ever wanted to change your view? Sometimes, unexpected circumstances realign our perspective—and reveal a blessing.

The house is sort of plain from the front, but our back deck overlooks a small, upper yard and a lower field, that is bordered by a tranquil lake which runs along the 14th fairway. Beyond the golf course flows the Yadkin River which shimmers when the water is high. In addition to the plenteous geese and mallards and deer, blue heron nest nearby and often pose majestically, one-legged at lake’s edge. More than once, a bald eagle has perched in the back yard. It’s a beautiful sight – if you can see it.

There has been a problem with the view—over the years, two huge trees, when full-leafed, have increasingly obscured the panorama of the vista. The larger of the view-hampering trees, a massive oak, stood in my neighbor’s yard. Nothing to be done about that. But the second of the large panorama blockers was in my yard.

Shortly after we moved in, I brought it up to my wife: “Sweetie, it would sure broaden our view if we took down that large tree in our back yard. What do you think?”

She didn’t mince words, “No, we aren’t cutting down that tree. I like the shade and the privacy.”

Over the years, I’ve continued to bring up the matter at strategic moments:

“Sweet love, have you noticed how much that tree has grown and how much more of our view it is blocking?”

“Forget it,” she reiterated.

I even tried to leverage the pandemic quarantine of 2020: "Boy, we sure are spending a lot of time at home now—makes the view even more important, don’t you think?”

My pleadings continued for five years until the summer of 2021.

It was a lovely morning, calm and pleasant, so I was startled when I heard a deep thundering sound accompanied by a sharp crackling noise.

When I looked up, I couldn’t believe my eyes. As if in slow motion, the neighbor’s giant, view-obscuring oak tree was tumbling toward the large tree in my yard. Its massive roots were ripping out of the red clay as the oak lumbered and thundered downward, snapping its own huge branches, and crackling through the limbs of the helpless tree in my yard.

The neighbor’s tree was down. The big tree of mine stood but was ravaged and barren.

Stunned, as I stared at the carnage, my first thought was, Oh no, how much is this clean up going to cost?

My second thought: Wow, what a great view!

The arborist providing an estimate on removing the fallen oak confirmed that the tree in our yard must be cut down – it was too damaged.

It turns out, I quipped to wonder-full Anne, God was on my side (I think she secretly enjoys the panorama now).

We bought our house for the view.

If you start praying, “Jesus, how do you see this?” don’t be surprised if some old values get uprooted and some mental strongholds come crashing down.

The weird story has a moral: sometimes big things that you’ve counted on must topple before your spiritual vision can broaden. So, if you start praying, “Jesus, how do you see this?” don’t be surprised if some old values get uprooted and some mental strongholds come crashing down. When you’ve been seeing things incorrectly, it isn’t always a pleasant feeling when Jesus starts correcting your vision. Most of my improvement in spiritual vision has followed moments or seasons when it felt like things were falling apart.

It all reminds me of one of Jesus’ strangest, most wonderful miracles—the day Jesus put mud in a man’s eyes (which we’ll see up close in my next post). It points to a bizarre truth: sometimes things must get muddier before they get clearer.

So, if things seem a little murkier now, don’t despair. The mud might be medicine. God might be healing your eyes. So, here’s my blessing for you today: May the big, sight-impairing obstacles in your life come crashing down, so you can see the beauty God put right in front of you.

HERE'S MUD IN YOUR EYE

"Sometimes big things that you’ve counted on must topple before your spiritual vision can broaden."

THE SEEING AS JESUS SEES BUNDLE

Pastor Alan's groundbreaking new book will empower you to discover the wonder and beauty you've been missing and clear away needless frustrations and misunderstandings. If you long to live with greater joy, victory, and wonder, let Pastor Alan Wright lead you through the Scriptures to the Savior's side to see everything from His perspective. You're going to love the view! When you donate to AWM this month, you'll receive a copy of Seeing as Jesus Sees and complimentary companion content to enhance your journey!

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