Morning Devotional
December  14, 2005
"A Gorilla Moment"         
    by Don Emmitte

I look up to the mountains - does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made the heavens and the earth! He will not let you stumble and fall; the one who watches over you will not sleep. (Psalm 121:1-3 NLT).

 

Tony Whittaker wrote how a 30-second film shows six people playing basketball, three in white shirts and three in black. Volunteers are asked to count how many times the white shirt team passes the ball. At the end of the film, they are asked if they saw anything unusual. Most do not. The unusual thing is: halfway through the film, a man wearing a gorilla suit walks through the players, beats his chest to the camera, then walks off. When shown the film again, people are utterly surprised to see him, to the extent that they often believe a different film has been substituted for the original one. Their focus on one task has blinded them to a truth. 1

This experiment illustrates a little known, but simple fact: if we are only looking for one thing, we do not usually see anything different. This principle forms the basis of Richard Wiseman's book, Did You Spot the Gorilla? How to Recognize Hidden Opportunities. The point at which people finally see the unexpected is what he calls a “gorilla moment.”

 

Have you had any "gorilla moments" lately? Have you seen God in your surroundings, in the love of those who love and accept you, in the myriad of blessings we all receive every day? And have you seen God in your present circumstances, or heard what he is trying to say to you in your disappointments, your financial setback, or your losses?

 

He is there! When there are so many other things that we are looking for, God is still there! Today, as you go through your day, ask God to help you see and experience the wonder of his handiwork in all of nature as well as in the every day issues of life. Let the words of the songwriter be your prayer today:

 

Open my eyes, Lord; I want to see Jesus,

To reach out and touch Him and say that I love Him.

Open my ears, Lord; please help me to listen.

Open my eyes, Lord; I want to see Jesus! 2

 

1. Tony Whittaker, Web Evangelism Bulletin, www.gospelcom.net/guide/
2. Words and music by Bob Cull. Copyright 1976 by Maranatha Music, Box 1396, Costa Mesa, California 92626.