After returning home from a retreat, a friend and I compared pictures.  

Friends – yep
Beautiful surroundings – yep

Our pictures were almost identical.

Until she showed me a picture of a gecko.  And then a picture of a framed painting of the most beautiful cross.  

I thought, “How did I mess the gecko and the cross?”  

They were right in front of me, yet I didn’t notice them.

And in a world full of noise and distraction, hurting hearts and loud opinions, I wonder how many other times I have missed “the gecko and the cross” – whether a small provision of His divine grace or a large display of His lavish love.  

How often we can approach life with a “look down and speed up” mentality – barreling our way through this problem or past that person – when really what we need to do is “look up and slow down.”  For in slowing down, won’t we see the “gecko”?  In looking up, won’t we see the “cross”?  

How can you slow down and look up today?  It might just be that in doing so,  your heart will be invigorated to worship our Creator while simultaneously finding rest in our Savior. Keeping our eyes on Jesus, surely we will see His wonders around us!

“How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!  All who delight in Him should ponder them.  Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty, His righteousness never fails.  He causes us to remember His wonderful works.  How gracious and merciful is our Lord!” Psalm 111:2-4