Our Eyes Fixed Ahead

Ahead, there is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I guess it is not really a thing, but something so indescribable. The beauty is so radiant; it's nearly blinding. It draws me in. I find myself gravitating towards the greatness. How did I get here? I was sitting and now I am walking toward the awesome scene almost involuntarily but I know that I have a choice. The light seems to be calling my name and guiding me toward the greatest adventure of my life. The excitement and joy seems to be streaming out of every pore of my body. I am overwhelmed with an incredible warmth from within. It feels like...love, but not what the world describes as love. This is a greater and more pronounced. I have never felt more loved or more whole or more content. I am still. I am me. My eyes are fixed on what lies ahead. Nothing can stop me.

Around, I start to become aware. The ugliness that seems to surround me. Above is grey, dark, and empty. To the left is dismay, destruction, and death. Look out! To the right there is a huge wave coming to take me out. Wait, where am I? Down, am I really walking on water? Right, that wave is going to come and consume me! Now I am falling down, down, down, deeper and deeper. I can't breathe. Overwhelmed. Struggling. Trying to get myself up out of this mess. Why didn't I see this before? What was I thinking trying to walk on water? What was I doing?

Fading, I remember faintly. That grand light. I see a glimpse of it now. What's that? A hand. Air starts to fill my longs as the water rushes past me. I am out of the water. I can breathe again. This man standing in front of me reminds me of the beauty I saw before. Why is he here...no wait, I do not even have to ask that question because I just know. He is here to save me. He pulled me out of the water. I am safe again. The sensation of love quickly returns to my entire being.

Behind, I see. This seems all too familiar. This is not the first time this has happened. Flashes of the same scene over and over again appear.  The man looks at me with penetrating eyes. I feel naked. He can see right through me. Guilt starts to creep in as I remember how many times this man has rescued me from the overwhelming, consuming waves. Doesn't he get tired of pulling me out of the mess I created for myself? I am the one who got distracted. I am the one who removed my focus and my gaze from the beautiful greatness ahead.

Stop. The man does not say a word and yet I know he means for me to be still and just gaze into his eyes. The guilt flees from my soul. I am forgiven. I am loved through and through. He sets my feet back into place, ready to continue on the journey ahead. No more worry. No more consumption. No more distractions. The greatness and beauty are ahead. I must find others to come along with me. I must show them the tremendous work that is ahead. Look! Do you see? We must go together.

Onward, our eyes fixed ahead.