Eyes Glued Open

Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth. – Proverbs 17:24 (NLT)

What are you aiming at? A couple of phrases you may have heard before: “Tend to your goals. He who aims at nothing is sure to hit it” and “There’s no point in carrying the ball unless you know where the goal is”. As we begin 2012 many often set New Year’s Resolutions to either start or stop something with a change of direction in behavior, habits or attitude. Most will give up their resolution after 30 days. At the heart of resolutions is a hope, an aspiration, a dream…a target. To hit the target we need to aim, to have focus and clarity in the steps and goals necessary.

Many years ago I had a dream, to find a young beautiful Christian woman and hoped that when I smiled at her she wouldn’t run away. One day as a college student in Santa Cruz, CA I smiled at a lovely face and she smiled back. In time the target became crystal clear, to see us standing facing each and sharing our vows before the minister, friends and family with fireworks an 80’s pop band and driving away in a convertible corvette with my beloved. For that to happen I needed to have good aim, focus and clarity in steps and goals along the way. In our dates I tried to be witty, fun, creative and masculine. Even though I failed miserably (like the time she had to push my beat up Ford Pinto so I could pop the clutch to get it started, or when I embarrassed her with a HUGE bouquet of blue flowers at her graduation) she liked me anyway. After a few years the next big steps were to talk to her Dad for permission to marry his daughter, buy a ring on a burger flipping income, surprise her with the BIG question, hope for a “yes”, and then plan for the wedding day (which to my surprise she did 99% of it – thus no fireworks, 80’s band or corvette).

After 21+ years of marriage I am thankful I’ve kept my eyes glued on wisdom and to not let my eyes wander…that would be foolish. I am a blessed man to be married to Charlene, my best decision in life second only to following Christ. There have been many targets, aims, and goals since then, and the ones that have been fruitful are those that have been centered, focused with eyes glued on God’s wisdom. Although my wedding day may not have had exploding rockets, a neon spandex big hair band, or red corvette, I found something much better, a life long treasure.

The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. – Proverbs 18:22 (NLT)