I am drinking in Jim McGuiggan’s The God of the Towel. My father read it years ago and was very moved by it. When he was whittling down his library last year, I picked the book off of the shelf.

I was challenged this morning when I read, “…it’s got to be a mistake to serve only in areas where we can see the end of the job rather than to get involved in an endeavor that stretches out before us and vanishes into the horizon.”

He later makes the point that sometimes we suffer “compassion-fatigue,” when our endless well-meaning goals don’t return the joy we once felt when beginning the journey.  Hold this thought.

John drives into work early every morning. He gets a glimpse of the sunrise before I do because the trees in our neighborhood block the horizon. If it’s a particularly striking one, he will call.

“Are you looking at the sunrise?” I then run outside to see what I can see and listen to his description of the panoramic color palette he is witnessing. It’s still beautiful at my end, yet limited. Even though I can’t fully see the sunrise, I love talking about it with John.

I am reminded of Lamentations 3:22-23.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Jeremiah praises God’s mercies that are renewed with each sunrise. The seemingly endless duties and unending spiritual goals then take on new life. What was done poorly yesterday is not a total loss. I am still alive and able to learn. And what was done well yesterday need not be as good as it gets. There is always opportunity for growth this side of Heaven.

Because of Christ, we can be refreshed when fatigued, persistent when stretched and find true peace and enjoyment when life gives us a nice break.

Amazing!