seeing more clearly

Click above to listen to track #4 Open Eyes from the new album So Loved as you read. You can enjoy the CD, MP3 Album, Piano Book and Sheet Music on the So Loved Album Page. You can stream the music on Spotify, iTunes-Apple Music, Amazon MP3, Pandora, and more.

How has your vision been lately? Are you seeing the whole picture?

As the photo below invites (taken during a trail hike in British Columbia), I want to be on the right path when it comes to life choices and decisions. If you are like me, this aspect of “open eyes” — having a clear vision of what to do next — is appealing and desirable. However, there is a much deeper meaning behind this song. As you listen, I encourage you to open your ears and heart to fully experiencing this track. Reflect on its inspiration and how this is expressed in the music…

Our days are numbered (see Psalm 90:12 below), so the constant beat of the piano and string plucking represents the clock ticking throughout our life. The hints of tension and discord in the metronome-like clicks represent a blindness we all have, and a deep longing all humans have to see more clearly. The more beautiful, flowing chorus with piano, cellos and choirs expresses our eyes being opened to fully see and embrace God’s love and forgiveness. Even more so, the chorus symbolizes how, as for Elisha’s servant, it is possible for us to see our circumstances as God sees them, in all their fullness, and with His love and even His angels surrounding us. However, we have to believe and know Jesus as Lord and Savior before we can have “open eyes” to the grace filled, abundant life He offers us by faith. This is a great mystery, but it fills me with great joy, wonder and awe! God’s heavenly perspective encourages us when we seek to know and pursue His dreams for our lives. This is true to the very last beat of our heart, represented by the final strike of the piano at the end of Open Eyes.

What is one step you can take to have “open eyes” in your life and faith journey?

OPEN EYES | ELISHA
2 Kings 6. “Do not be afraid…O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” Lord, open our eyes to your perspective, to a grace filled, abundant life with you.

“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don’t be afraid,; the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:15-17, NIV)

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12, NIV)

Click above to listen to the title track Unveiled from my fifth album as you read. If you enjoy, you can order the CD or MP3 Album or Sheet Music (the song is also on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora and more).

What vision, dream, or life circumstance do you wish you could see more clearly?

Sometimes life’s “clouds” keep me from seeing clearly, or understanding why something is happening. On a recent music video trip, the shelf cloud pictured below was our welcome as we scouted a filming location for the next morning. Thunderstorms were likely the next few days, but there was also a chance the weather would be partly cloudy with no rain.

As we hoped, we were able to film a video for a brand new song under cloudy skies at sunrise the next day. The big surprise (seeing more clearly) came the second morning, when an unplanned video for the listener favorite Awaken the Dawn happened to a glorious sunrise that peaked through the clouds. I encourage you to watch Awaken the Dawn here.

For me, seeing more clearly, seeing beyond the “clouds,” involves praying, watching, waiting, or acting, and usually a combination of these. Waiting can be the most difficult, which is where faith comes in. There is a sense that God is revealing next steps toward living out a vision or dream for the future, or living life on purpose, or making sense of life circumstances.

Here is the liner note I wrote for the song Unveiled: “A ‘veil’ is a covering of my heart that keeps me from understanding. When I turn to God the veil is taken away and I can more clearly see and reflect His goodness. See 2 Corinthians 3:18.” There is no guarantee we will see or understand things fully every time. However, I have found that God helps put things in perspective. He is faithful to unveil things in His way and in His time.

What step can you take toward seeing more clearly today?

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV)

“…our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, MSG)

SO LOVED Track #4 – Open Eyes

An Idea for Clearer Vision