Look Around

Weaved throughout the musical “Hamilton” are the lyrics:

“Look around, look around at how lucky we are

To be alive right now

Look around, look around.”

While watching the musical and looking around, I thought how lucky I was to be alive right then and there with my son Jason next to me seeing this dynamic production together.

Since then the words have come back to me often.

I thought of them on my recent trip to Gettysburg standing in front of the Cyclorama painting of the battle.  To see it in its entirety, l I had to look around 360 degrees, and it made me think about how lucky I am to be alive right now viewing this and not living through it.  The painting is amazing, and I’m not sure how someone does such a complex, massive work.

When I was in Colorado we picked up a man with his wife who were hitch hiking on a snowy, winding, desolate, mountain road.  They had an expensive, new vehicle with a flat tire.  They did not want help putting the spare on but wanted a ride to their ranch 12 miles down the road.  Now, I know I watch too many episodes of “Criminal Minds.”  I was not thrilled giving them a ride thinking of that TV show.  However, they turned out to be a very nice couple, and I finally relaxed and started looking around at the scenery again.  When we arrived at their ranch, I saw this picture below.  Had I not been looking around I would have missed seeing a moose!  My first moose!  I took a deep breath and felt so lucky to be alive at that moment seeing such a beautiful animal.

When we look around and take in all that is around us, it can help us feel, not only lucky, but also grateful for being alive in the moment.  When we look around at all God has created, when we look around and see all that we have, when we look around and notice the little things that can make us smile, we can enjoy life more, feel thankful and praise God for all he has given us.  

May you take time to thank God for all the big and little things in your life and for being alive right now.  Even if life is difficult, and we cannot come up with the words ourselves to say to God, we can go to the Psalms and use the words of David and others to give thanks.  An easy one to memorize is Psalm 9: 1 - 

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”

May you look around this Thanksgiving and take note of what you see.