“Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”

Psalm 34:8

Last Thanksgiving, with eager anticipation, two hundred parents, siblings and grandparents arrived early to stake out their seats. I, however, did not realize that our perfectly timed arrival was about 20 minutes too late. This left us on the front row, but in the corner. As Indians, Pilgrims and Turkeys all filed into the auditorium, the sound of every parent and grandparent getting their phones, SLR cameras, and GoPros overwhelmed the nervous shuffle of 1st graders in their first school play.
From my corner view, I could watch not only my children, but also the smiling mothers. What struck me was how every parent was watching their children through the glow of the screen, while their flesh and blood sat on the other side of the cool technological device.  At that moment, it struck me how much we view life rather than experience it.

Like tourists on a safari, we passively observe life from the safety of an insured eco-tourist company all the while amassing a digital footprint while neglecting the experience. Like many, I have collected meaningless photographs on my computer.

I have thousands of digital photos of a meaningless flag football tackle, or a blurry capture of my daughter crossing the high wire at the White Water center.

Rather than experiencing those moments, I viewed them through the glass and silicone device in my hand. More worried about documenting than enjoying the experience.

For many of us this is our approach to Jesus. We will view him through the stained glass windows of a sanctuary. We will listen to some podcaster’s thoughts about Him rather than eat, digest, ruminate, meditate, wrestle with Him in His Word. But Jesus invites us to taste and see…experience with all of our senses His goodness.

John 1:35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

John probably had hundreds of disciples, but only two responded to the call of Christ. They put down their iPhones (metaphorically speaking of course), and responded to Christ’s invitation.

Remember Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” How might you follow the True Light of Christ this year?

How might He be calling you?