Your eyes will behold the king [Messiah-King] in his beauty; they will see a land that stretches afar.

Isaiah 33:17 (ESV)

One of my favorite movies is “Wonder” based on the book by R. J. Palacio. The story is about a fifth-grade boy born with extreme facial differences. He is ashamed of his appearance and shunned by peers. He hides his face under an astronaut’s helmet with a tinted shield. Cruelty erupts. Lessons in kindness and healthy ways of relating to diversity emerge throughout the story.

How can we see with our hearts to the hearts of others?

Look to Jesus. Not for his physical appearance (Isaiah 53:2) which wasn’t impressive. Look to his beautiful heart for people.

When I look to Jesus, he nudges me to see others and their valid stories. I’m moved to respond.

My “next thing” comes into focus: an elderly, widowed neighbor needs her trash can set by the curb; a woman in the back of the church is crying so I put an arm around her shoulders; I recognize my plentiful blessings and praise him through song. I say “yes” to a request to visit an overwhelmed woman who feels hopeless and offer a word of encouragement. My adult children are weary, so I spend time with their children.

And when I look to Jesus throughout the Bible, I delight to spend more time with him in prayer.

Look, praise, and sing. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations (Revelation 15:3 ESV)!

The fifth stanza from “Doe ye Nexte Thynge”* ends:

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,

(Working or suffering) be thy demeanor,

In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,

The light of His countenance be thy psalm.

Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing!

Then, as He beckons thee, DO THE NEXT THING.

Karen Sims

*Steele Elliott, Emily Elizabeth. Stillness and Service. London: Seeley, Jackson & Halliday, circa 1875.