The clouds opened up and the rain poured.<\/p>\n
We sure need it<\/em>, thought Peter as he stared at the drops disappearing into his brown, parched back yard grass. Looking out his porch screen, he noticed the holes.<\/p>\n There were a hundred things \u00a0needing to be done between the house repairs, his duties at work and his other responsibilities. Peter was completely overwhelmed.<\/p>\n To him, life was one big problem. He didn’t even know where to begin. Exhausted, he laid down on the chaise lounge \u00a0and shut his eyes. Before long, he was asleep and began dreaming.<\/p>\n In his \u00a0dream, Peter was driving \u00a0a convertible in the mountains. Around a curve, \u00a0he came upon a lake nestled in a valley between rolling hills of lush meadows and trees. Peter gasped at the \u00a0beauty and pulled into an overlook parking area to take in the view.<\/p>\n The sun was low in the sky and the colors of the sunset were beginning to dance across the lake. Peter reclined his seat. The air was cool. The wind gently slapped his face and he detected a sent of mountain laurel. The more Peter pondered the scene, the deeper and richer the splendor appeared.<\/p>\n In his spirit, Peter knew he was looking at \u00a0heaven. He felt a \u00a0deep security and hope. The problems, which \u00a0had seemed so gigantic moment ago were like nothing compared to the beauty and magnificent splendor before him.<\/p>\n The rich implications of being a child of God began to flood his heart. He realized, as never before, how unbelievably awesome it is to have been forgiven of all his wrongs.<\/p>\n He had done nothing to earn God’s love. God loved him with an eternal love, unaffected by life. Joy and peace welled up into euphoria. \u00a0He just laid there soaking it all in, like parched, cracked soil drinks in an early morning rain.<\/p>\n Peter was not sure how long he lay in bliss, but before long and very slowly at first, he began to notice tiny specs on the windshield of his car; little bits of dirt, smudges and dead bugs. He hadn\u2019t noticed them before, but as he shortened his focus he could see them clearly. The closer he looked, the more he saw. Soon the imperfections began to distract him from his appreciation of the grandeur he had been enjoying.<\/p>\n He tried to ignore the windshield, but before long he had been completely overtaken by the details of the mess in front of him. The reality of the brilliance beyond the windshield had been lost.<\/p>\n Suddenly a voice came from the seat beside him.<\/p>\n “What happen, Peter?”<\/p>\n Startled, Peter turned to see a man dressed in a white suit seated beside him in the car.<\/p>\n “How long have you been sitting there?” asked Peter.<\/p>\n “The whole time.”<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you get here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter, Peter.<\/p>\n Why did you take your eyes off of what you were looking at; the reality beyond and what has been done for you? You were focusing on truth and hope and enjoying your inheritance as a son, but then you chose to stop looking at it. Why did you \u00a0start focusing on the things close up on the windshield?\u201d The man asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a messenger, Peter.<\/p>\n Why did you start focusing on the windshield? That stuff was there the whole time you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know?\u201d Peter explained. \u201cI \u00a0began to notice how dirty it was. There\u2019s so much needing to be cleaned.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that your goal, Peter, to have a clean windshield?<\/p>\n You’re forgetting something very important. How did you feel when you were focusing on what was beyond the windshield?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the most unbelievable feeling I\u2019ve ever had!\u201d Peter exclaimed, a great big smile returning to his face as he recalled it.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything about this world seemed insignificant! My problems and obligations were like little bits of sand on the floor.<\/p>\n All that seemed important was the splendor beyond the windshield. I wanted my family and others to see and experience it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good, Peter,\u201d said the man. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what you should have been feeling. But then something changed. You began to believe a lie that has haunted you.”<\/p>\n “What lie?” Peter asked.<\/p>\n “You began to believe \u00a0that the way you handle your cares and problems can change God’s love for you.<\/p>\n Did you really think a few dead bugs on your windshield could effect all that brilliance?<\/p>\n You fell for one of the greatest deceptions the enemy uses to rob God\u2019s sons and daughters of their joy and strength.<\/p>\n All he has to do is to get you to take your eyes off the marvelous truths of the gospel for a moment and to begin to focus \u00a0on your problems. Before long, you think \u00a0it\u2019s all up to them again. You start living like an orphan and your joy is zapped..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut we have problems and obligations. We can\u2019t just ignore them, right?\u201d questioned Peter.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s right, Peter. We can\u2019t just ignore them. But if your goal is carefree living, you’re in for a weary journey of endless striving.<\/p>\n Can you prevent bugs from running into your windshield and dying? Can you prevent dust and dirt and rain?”<\/p>\n “No.”<\/p>\n “Of course you can\u2019t! Dead bugs end up on the windshields of life. Until you realize your goal is not to prevent them, you won’t \u00a0see them in the proper light. Does that make sense, Peter?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think so\u201d, said Peter. \u201cBut I certainly can\u2019t just ignore all this stuff. How do I look at this filth?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeter, when you were looking at the mountains and the lake, were the smudges and dirt and dead bugs on your windshield?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, yea. I think so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook at the mountains again, Peter. Tell me if you still see the smudges?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, not while I\u2019m focusing on heaven, I mean the mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow, look back at the windshield again and pick one of the worse dead bugs, the one you think should be cleaned off first.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOK, I\u2019m looking at it. It\u2019s that one, next to the rear view mirror.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood. Keep your eyes on that bug, but begin to focus on the mountains again. And tell me what happens to the bug and the mountains?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, the bug seems really small and insignificant when I focus on what\u2019s beyond the windshield. And when I focus on the beauty beyond, but still have the bug in sight, the mountains and lake seem even richer than before. Why’s that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeter, beauty is magnificent to gaze upon, but it’s even more marvelous when seen in light of something not so wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe it!\u201d exclaimed Peter. \u201cYou mean all this time I was fighting and striving and working myself weary to prevent these dead bugs and this dirt from landing on my windshield. And all along, they were going to end up there whether I wanted them to or not?<\/p>\n And not only that, the very things I was striving against the wind to prevent are the very things that God is using to help me focus on his truths more deeply?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAmazing, isn\u2019t it Peter,\u201d said the man.<\/p>\n \u201cYea.\u201d said Peter. \u201cBut what should my goal be if it\u2019s not to reduce the problems in my life?<\/p>\n \u201cGreat question Peter, but I think you already know the answer. What do you think your goal should be?\u201d asked the man.<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d said Peter. \u00a0“All I can think about is what I was experiencing before I noticed the bugs on the windshield. My mind was filled with thoughts about God and how much He has done for me and how much He loves me. I was amazed at the fact that He actually sent his son to die for me, so that I could become one of His children.<\/p>\n All I could think about was how I wanted to be the best child I could be for him. I wanted to please Him in my role \u00a0husband, father and friend.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeter, you\u2019ve answered your own question. The longings you have, while focusing on Jesus and his great love for you, become your goal in life, nothing else.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what about the bugs?\u201d pressed Peter.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can view them in two different ways,\u201d said the man. \u201cYou can view them only as problems and obligations, there to weigh you down. Or, in light of your goal of pleasing your Father, you can develop a passion for serving Him in everything He calls you to do, including approaching the dead bugs that go along with living on this side of the windshield.<\/p>\n Having a passion and resolve to give God glory in all \u00a0you do, can unmask the problems. You can then see them clearly for what they really are, little dead bugs and dirt on a windshield, having no effect on the marvelous truths beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n Peter seemed to understand. He was looking again at the brilliance beyond the windshield.<\/p>\n \u201cPeter.\u201d The man said.<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d Peter looked over at the messenger.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s one more thing I need to tell you.<\/p>\n No matter how many dead bugs and how much dirt and grim which lands on your windshield; and no matter how ugly the mess appears, never, ever think that it\u2019s all up to you to take care of it by yourself.<\/p>\n Remember; the richness of your inheritance. When you were adopted as a child of God, you received the full rights of a child; the wonderful hope of heaven beyond the windshield. But not only that Peter, God gave you something for now.<\/p>\n When you became His son, God came to live inside of you in the form of His Holy Spirit. This is an unbelievable truth! God does not expect you to take care of all this mess alone. God Himself indwells you. \u00a0He wants you to depend on Him to work in you to handle every dead bug.\u201d<\/p>\n Peter smiled. Already he was seeing the mess in front of him in a different light. He had the power of the universe inside of him, ready to show forth in strength at each and every opportunity.<\/p>\n Peter looked at the man, but he was gone. Without a second thought, Peter turned his focus again to the soothing, powerful, peaceful truth beyond the windshield.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, back on the porch, Peter\u2019s 8-year old daughter Lisa came crashing through the door to the porch.<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWha, Wha What\u2019s going on? Oh hey sweetie. I was asleep. Is any thing wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Daddy, not really, well yea, we had an accident. Randy had an accident.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs he OK? Is he hurt!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not hurt Daddy, but he\u2019s scared. He caused an awful mess! We were trying to reach a game on our closet shelf and we couldn\u2019t reach it. Randy brought in Mom\u2019s paint cans from the bathroom and stacked them up so he could reach it. He was able to get the game, but then he lost his balance and fell. One of the cans came open and blue paint got all over the carpet.<\/p>\n Seeing Peter’s look, Lisa stepped back. “But, we cleaned most of it up Daddy! \u00a0Please don\u2019t get mad at him. He didn\u2019t mean to!\u201d<\/p>\n Peter could feel the pressure mount. He could never fully clean blue paint from the carpet and he had no money to spare to get it professionally cleaned or to replace it.<\/p>\n Add it to the list<\/em>, he thought. One more thing for him to do, one more<\/em>. Peter stopped in mid thought, paused, then continued his thinking. One more dead bug on the windshield. One more opportunity to see the beauties of God\u2019s truth through a stained carpet bug on the windshield. One more opportunity to see God work in me to handle this challenge of life.<\/em><\/p>\n Peter looked at Lisa. He could tell she was scared and worried. \u201cWhere is Randy?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s hiding Daddy! He\u2019s scared of what you\u2019ll do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go find him. I\u2019m not mad. I know it was an accident.\u201d<\/p>\n Peter found Randy huddled in the pantry, terrified and sobbing. His bottom lip was trembling as he cried. When he saw Peter a look of terror filled his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cRandy, it\u2019s OK!\u201d Peter assured him. And then their eyes met. Instead of the anger and rage he was expecting, Randy saw something else in his daddy\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on Randy, we’ll figure out a way to clean it up.\u201d<\/p>\n Peter reached out his hand and Randy took it. They walked out to the porch, Lisa following. \u00a0They all crawled into the chaise lounge where \u00a0they hung out for the longest time, \u00a0laughing and enjoying each other until the sun started setting and mom called them in for dinner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The clouds opened up and the rain poured. We sure need it, thought Peter as he stared at the drops disappearing into his brown, parched back yard grass. Looking out his porch screen, he noticed the holes. There were a hundred things \u00a0needing to be done between the house repairs, his duties at work and … Continue reading Dead Bugs on the Windshield<\/span>