An old boss used to tell us “unless you are the lead dog, the view never
changes.” It was supposed to make us go sell more, to many it was just a joke.
They, we are used to not being the lead dog, and can more identify with our view
than the lead dog’s view. While riding down the freeway last night and not
trying to be the lead dog, it occurred to me I see the rear ends of more cars
than I see the front end. Can the front be an end? But with eyes firmly
planted on traffic ahead, I was almost oblivious to oncoming traffic, and it
passed so quickly I had little time to focus on them. But the rears of cars,
that was a different thing. I wondered, how much time was spent designing the
rear you are most familiar with as opposed to the front that you first see? It
became a game as I rode through traffic....
As kids we could identify a small block Chevy or a 440 Magnum a block away,
up close no doubt which was a Ford and which was a Buick. Bu today with generic
looking pod shaped cars, except for a few like the Mustang and Camaro, all cars
look the same, with only a few telltale signs, such as tail lights. Some are
creative, some industrial, some show lack of style, while others just bore you
to death. No styling, which may explain the boring SUV’s a younger generation
wants. Or is stuck with. But I look back, no pun intended, and this non-lead
dog has had some interesting tail lights on his cars. Which made them readily
identifiable.
Even the tail lights on our MG’s were unique, like no other. My first BMW
1600, those little round tail lights a styling cue. Then there were the Pinto
lights shared with the Maverick, duh. The 1965 Chevy Impala SS left no second
guessing as to what you were following. Check out the Cadillac fins in the
early sixties, no doubt who you were behind. From C1 to C7 the tail lights of
the Corvette are easily recognizable, Ford with its unique round tail lights a
styling feature, in 1958 and 1960 when they deferred, sales dropped. Didn’t
look like a Ford. Following a new Honda, or was it a Toyota, they all look the
same, no identifiable characteristics. Even pickups have a certain styling, but
only from the front. When are the designers going to pay attention to what most
of us see most of the time? How many of us when walking away and looking back
at our cars, look at the rear instead of the front? Which do you identify
with?
Scripture tells us that no one has seen the face of God and lived. Yet too
many try to pass the lead dog and take the place of God in our lives. When
asked to describe Jesus, we see his face as he hangs on the cross, but how many
can identify with the stripes on his back? His flesh ripped open, the meat of
it torn and bleeding? Yet we sing songs about wanting to see his face, how
about one about seeing his back? Or the back of his hands? Or the fact he is
coming back? Seems if we only seek his face we only get a partial view of who
he is. Because, as humans we turn our back on him, maybe the side of us he sees
the most. Yet he can identify each one of us by name. What do you see the most
in Jesus, and what do you want him to see in you? Imagine the crowd seeing his
back dragging his cross, never seeing the pain in his eyes. Or only seeing the
pain, but never seeing the reason why. We tend to be one dimensional
Christians, only seeing or knowing what is taught, when there is much more to a
relationship with him. When we think of Jesus what do we see? When others see
you, do they see Jesus in you? What part? I know many who are glad to see some
religious person leave, yet few depend on the spirit, who we cannot see. Why do
we try to do it on our own, when we don’t have to? And shouldn’t? We are to
feed his sheep, yet we hold the food so high only a giraffe can get it.
Baseball is a lot like church, only the catcher or the preacher sees the
faces of the audience. The rest of us, we have a view of the rear, the backs of
people’s heads. So next time you cannot recognize someone, have them turn
around, then see if you recognize them. It might help, or provide some comic
relief. But keep in mind Jesus, and as we get to know more about him, we can
see all of him. We recognize him, and rather than the WWJD crowd, you know what
to do, because you know who he is. Maybe put this way, when you realize who he
is, you will understand why he came.
So next time you spend time in front of a mirror, consider the back side
too, the side we will see more of. When in traffic, consider what brand of car
is in front of you. You only see the back of the driver’s head, but would you
know them outside of their car? Better yet, would you know Jesus outside of
church? On the street? Could he be right in front of you and you don’t know
it? We need a 360 degree view of him, and he offers even more. We get access
to the kingdom via him, and we get to come in through the front door. If your
view of Jesus isn’t changing, it might not be growing. Keep an eye on what is
in front of you, for where your eyes go, you follow. Keep your eyes upon Jesus,
from head to toe, from back to front. See where he took the 39 lashes for us,
and see him for who he is. He never turned his back on us, but bares it for all
to see.
Or the next sight you may see is in your rear view mirror, and the flashing
lights aren’t there to comfort....who we see most of reflects in who we are.
What do you see, better yet who? Turn signals to let you know where to turn,
brake lights when to stop, and a third brake light at eye level. Now for
motorcycles....you probably know me by my tail light...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com