Our daily grind often keeps our attention focused on many of the details of life. We must make countless decisions each day just to live to see the next. And rarely do we have the luxury to wonder what it’s all about. But if we’re not careful we can miss the forest for the trees. We must learn to appreciate both.
Of course, there are many demands of daily life that need our attention. From work commitments and bills, to family obligations and various civic engagements. And all of these are important matters, to be sure.
At the same time, we can get so focused on these details of life that we lose our larger sense of purpose and meaning.
And even this gets played out on multiple levels.
For example, we might get so focused on earning a living that we never stop to consider the best use of our talents, gifts, and abilities. And this can leave us hopping from one job to the next without ever really finding true peace in the calling God has given us.
Likewise, in marriage, we might get so caught up in our daily chores, logistics, and even maintaining regular date nights that we never realize the larger purpose for our relationship. Why has God brought the two of us together?
Even still, both our work and relationships are not ultimately just about us, and we have a part to play in the larger story God is telling.
How might we use our life and relationships to partner with God in his story of redemption?
We can better understand and navigate the details of life the more we see the larger story and our role in it.
In short, the forest helps us to make sense of the trees. This is not to neglect the trees, but rather to hold them in proper balance within the forest.
In the end, fully engage in the details of your life without losing the larger story. Learn to honor both the forest and the trees.
Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash
