Just a Glance
By: Michael Pavano
Daniel and I were out this morning in the backyard playing. We have spent a lot of time in the yard, he loves the outdoors. We have taught him a few things about exploring in the backyard like how to pick himself up if he falls or how far he can go before entering the neighbors yard. Also in the backyard, we have this cement block in front of the basement door that Daniel likes to sit on with me as he looks at the scenery. Today Daniel got up and walked. I decided to just let him go and explore. The area is enclosed, and he's nice and bundled up. I just watched with a smile on my face as he went. About 30 feet away, Daniel turns around, gives me a quick glance and waves at me. 10 feet later, he smiles and waves, and 10 feet later he does it again, but all the while he keeps moving forward, exploring this huge open world that has opened up before him. He does this with great independence, but I am there for him if he falls, or if he wanders off into the neighbors yard (as he often tries to do 
).
).
As I was watching Daniel, a thought occurred to me. This resembles so closely our relationship with Christ. When I was 15 and felt for the first time this deep, warm, and sensational feeling of love for Jesus, I felt as if nothing in this world could touch me. It was so powerful. As I grew as not only a Christian but as a young adult, the feelings were not always as powerful and sensational as they were when I was 15. The rocky bumps of life sometimes confounded me and caused me to lose my way, fall, or even forget how I felt when I first came to know Jesus. However true this was, something never changed and will never change in my life.
Christ is always with me. All of the lessons Christ has taught me, the way in which he wishes me to live my life, the fact that He is with me until the end of time itself and beyond, these truths have always remained with me. I, like Daniel, could leave that safe comfortable place with Daddy and walk forward into this whole new world, but all I need to do if I begin to lose my way is to look back at Jesus. I truly believe that in the life of every Christian, Jesus is there watching, smiling. He is watching you in every step of your life, but just as Daniel needs to learn to use the lessons I've taught him, we need to learn to live the life Christ wishes for us to live. But also like Daniel, if we fall, Christ is there to pick us back up and if we begin to stray, Christ is there to lead us back on the right path. Christ is always with us. All it takes is just a glance.
