One of the important lessons we need to learn about living the Christian life is maintaining an eternal perspective in the midst of horizontal life that is always full of distraction and trials.

I ran across a story that reminds us how important perspective can be. A college student wrote the following letter to her parents:

One of the many remarkable virtues our Lord and Savior radiates is compassion. He teaches us so much about the display of His compassion throughout the gospel accounts. 

In Mark 6:33–44, we see a powerful glimpse of the compassionate heart of Jesus. After a time of hard ministry (healing, preaching, rejection, fickle crowds, Herod Antipas feeling threatened, John the Baptist’s death), Jesus invites His disciples to retreat and rest (Mark 6:30–33). But as they withdraw by boat, the crowds anticipate His movements and arrive ahead of Him on foot.