Who’s Watching?

by Monica Gambrell

My husband and oldest son, Daniel, were always known for their lack of physical grace. Countless times they seemed to trip over thin air. One fine morning I joined their ranks. I was heading out the door to work and was met by a cold, stiff wind. I hadn’t realized that it was going to be so cold. As usual, I had both hands full; a briefcase in one hand and a cup of hot tea in the other. We had nine or ten steep wooden steps leading from the porch to the sidewalk. It was impossible to detect, but there was a thin layer of ice on the stairs, and my first step became my only step as I tumbled thumpity-thump down to the sidewalk. It must have truly been a hilarious sight. If I had been watching, I don’t know if I could have stifled my laughter. I don’t know why it was so immediate and instinctual to look up for witnesses, but it was.

I didn’t even take time to survey and assess the damages before I scanned the neighborhood to see who might have been watching. Our house was on a very high hill. We could see a lot of the city from the porch. Every other house near us, save one, was twenty or more feet lower than ours, so it would surprise me to know that no one witnessed the event. I didn’t have any broken bones, but I was bruised and bloodied. I had to climb back up those icy stairs in order to change my torn and now stained clothing. You can be sure I was much more careful on my way up than I was on my way down!

In our hometown there was a neighborhood walking track my husband and I frequented often. The children played on the playground equipment in the center of the track while we held hands and leisurely walked. One Sunday morning a visitor approached me and told me something that just blew me away. She and her husband had been going through some challenging times, and were even considering divorce. Their daily trek took them past the track almost every day. She said that the sight of us enjoying one another so completely made her believe that they could revive their marriage. How humbling! Others are watching us, but most importantly, God is always watching us.

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).

“Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

“God, You are my God; I shall be watching for You; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and exhausted land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1).

Father God, we must be more cognizant than ever that every thought, word, and deed are in full view of You. May I live in such a way as to be fully invisible so that You are visible to those whom You place in my path. Every heartbeat brings us closer to the moment when we will be at the judgement seat of Christ. May I truly feel the urgency to sow seed in as many souls as possible, that they might enjoy both relationship and fellowship with You.