Seeing Clearly (07/10/2026)

Yesterday was window washing day at my house. I have a guy who calls every year and schedules it. And sure enough, yesterday, Lee came as planned. He washed every window on the inside, went outside, took down all the screens and scrubbed them and dried them, washed the outside of every window, and then rehung the screens. And because of that experience, I am seeing more clearly, but it isn’t all due to my windows.

In fact, the truth is that what cleared my vision more than anything was the attitude of Lee, the one with buckets, rags, and joy. He came in a great mood, he stayed in a great mood, he left in a great mood. And the more I chatted with Lee, the more I caught the joy. He was “enthusiastic” from his “hello” to his “goodbye.” God is within that young man, truly.

As I watched him and as I chatted with him, the word “enthusiastic” kept surfacing in my mind. It is a special word for me. I recall the day vividly when I put the clues together in my Greek class and realized that enthusiasm means “having God within.”  And while I was happy about my clean windows, I was ecstatic about being reminded anew of the possibilities when we invite the LORD to remain in us. Joy abounds.

We believers on our journey are called to invite the LORD in and to be hospitable, to make room, to welcome Him. And when we do, joy comes with Him. It isn’t that we don’t have suffering in our lives, we do; no, it is that with the LORD within, we have faith, hope, and love and they emit joy as surely as a rose emits an unforgettable aroma.

I recall Acts of the Apostles and the draw of the early Christian life – the way they loved one another and their joy even in the midst of suffering. And I think of our communities today realize that when we gather we often present the appearance of being joyless. Who wants to enter a new way of life when those who are already there appear so unhappy?

This morning, when I look out my window, I can see forever thanks to my window washer. And on top of that, thanks to my window washer yesterday, I am more focused on my LORD and more open to Him. This morning my prayer was for enthusiasm. “Remain in me, LORD, and let me remain in You.”

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.