“Look Out; Look Up” – Part II (07/25/2025)

Several days ago, I shared with you the advice of Fr. Francis: “Look out; look up.” He gave it to me when I was struggling so with all the elements of my life, at a time when I felt so vulnerable and inadequate. And it helped tremendously. In looking out, I found I wasn’t alone, but rather that I was surrounded by loving and helpful neighbors and friends. And looking up, I realized the LORD was there, helping me, guiding me, gracing me. And my ability to cope grew into my ability to thrive. And then I realized that there was a part II to Fr. Francis’ advice – that of servant of Christ.

As I grew stronger, when I looked out, the Spirit helped me recognize others who were struggling as I was. And the Spirit stirred me to help others as others had helped me. And as I looked up, I was able to recognize the LORD’s constant power and presence in my life, and my desire to serve the LORD, to use the life He’d given me for love of Him and for His glory began to manifest itself. And I came to recognize that while we all have times of need, we all need to also recognize we have been gifted and graced for a purpose that exceeds our own needs. Life is like that, I’ve come to realize. And I’ve also come to realize that we are capable of doing both: needing and serving at the same time.

This became most apparent to me as I struggled with cancer. I had lots of needs, but I was blessed to have lots who helped me in those hours. And I had lots of hours when I couldn’t do much, but I could pray. I could pray for others who were also struggling. And I could reach out to others with a call or a card. I have learned through life that we can be both in need and capable of helping others in need at the same time.

And our LORD, oh, our loving LORD, He can fill our hearts, He can ease our minds, He can gift others in our circle of the world to help us. He is all-loving, but that doesn’t have to be a one-way relationship. Actually, right relationships are never one-way. We can offer Him praise, we can offer Him thanks, and we can offer our lives and our actions as gifts to Him for His glory. We can be the servants of the LORD.

Look out. Who is there to be our loving companion, to help us in our need? Who is there who needs loving companionship in the moment? Who needs our help?

Look up. The LORD is always present and always loving. Allow ourselves to rest in the LORD. Allow the LORD to help us in our need. Our minds and hearts beg us to love as we are loved, to serve the one without whom we could not live, and move and have our being.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.