Those early Reinhardters who planted slow-growing, long-lived oak trees in the nursery play yard took the long view. They provided welcome shade from the Texas summer sun for many generations of children, including our own, but not much for theirs. Cottonwoods would have served them better, but would have left us to begin anew.
Students who study that extra hour to earn the elusive ‘A’ when a ‘B’ or ‘C’ would have gotten them by are taking the long view, as are those who save instead of spend, choosing college over a Camaro.
Anyone who in the crucible of suffering and stress remembers that “In everything God works for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28) is taking the long view. To know that “Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5) is to take the long view. It often isn’t easy, but it is always best to TAKE THE LONG VIEW.
[see important edit below*] I love Pastor Geiger’s point that “Anyone who in the crucible of suffering and stress remembers that […Romans 8:28 and Psalm 30:5…] is taking the long view.” Along the same lines, I’m sure he’d agree (his life proves it!) that anyone who sees an opportunity to put himself on a pedestal but instead follows Peter’s admonition, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” is also taking the long view.
At an awards banquet for a very great man (one of my clients — a delightful man to work for), the honoree had very few words. In fact, his humble acceptance was greatly exceeded in length and pomposity by men who worked speeches into their “prayers.” At one point during one of those “prayers” I looked up, embarrassed that I had bowed my head for what was obviously NOT a prayer. I saw that others were looking up with the same confusion. Afterwards, we laughed about it, but I don’t think God was amused. Here we were, gathered to honor a man who has glorified God by his humble service, and that humility was in stark contrast to the attitude of other would-be “great men.” They were setting themselves on pedestals by using the prayer time they had been granted to make speeches they had been denied. These men — and all of us — had better learn to TAKE THE LONG VIEW when it comes to humility.
*[edit] My wife encouraged me to be more charitable in this, but I couldn’t see until just now… I do NOT know the motives of the men who prayed as I described. Nor do I know the history of their spiritual journey. But I DO know this: by judging them harshly I was putting myself on the pedestal as their judge. Turns out I was preaching to myself!