My drive around town got a little scary today. As I slowed to stop at a red light, I looked to my left and saw a truck pull beside me and was surprised to see the driver was a woman who looked to be in her late 50s, wearing reading glasses and typing on her phone with both thumbs as her car rolled to a stop.

First lesson learned? As soon as the light turned green, I was getting as far away from her as quickly as I could.

Second lesson learned?  We do some pretty stupid things with our heads down.  Like drive cars.  I’m amazed at how many people I pass on the roads who are looking down as they drive a 4,500 pound metal machine and don’t think twice about it.  Translation?  Accidents waiting to happen.  And smart people know to get as far away from those as they can so that they won’t be hurt when the inevitable tragedy takes place.

Nowadays we walk with our heads down, too.  Maybe we’re fascinated with our choice of footwear, but more likely we’re texting or changing our social status with little regard for where we’re going.  The result?  Padded lamp posts in London to protect the 1 in 10 texters who walk run into them, or an instant  viral video when a woman falls into a fountain at a mall while texting.

Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. (John 4:35 – ESV)

Third lesson learned?  The church has a responsibility in America to lift up her head.  To be aware of the culture around us and the needs in front of us.  Is it possible that the culture we’re called to reach is moving as far away from the church as possible simply because they see us living our faith with our heads down and they can see the crash that’s imminent?  Have we become so consumed with our own agendas, practices, and kingdoms, that we’ve lost sight of those around us and have become immune to the potential damage that we can cause if we continue down this road?

We need to stop praying just for eyes to see.

The time has come to ask the Lord to give us the courage to look up.