Recently our daughter went on a mission trip to South Africa. Before returning home, they visited an animal reserve and went on a safari. She took some photographs which she later showed her mother and I.

"Do you see the lion?" she asked. I only saw animals in the distant background. Then after a moment of studying the photo, I saw the lion in the foreground. It's amazing how it blended into the foliage. I saw but I didn't perceive.

When the infant Jesus was taken up to the temple Simeon perceived and worshipped, the others did not. The Pharisees, scribes, Sadducees, and Levis were close enough to reach out and touch the Baby, but they failed to recognize the Christ Child (Luke 2:25-31).

When Jesus earthly life was almost finished, a voice boomed forth from the skies. Jesus heard and understood what the Father was saying, but others thought it was thunder. They heard, but didn't understand (John 12:23-29).

Are we perceiving and understanding? Are we seeing what is right in front of our eyes? We need to think deeply and not ignore the obvious (Genesis 37:11, Luke 2:19 & 51, Matthew 13:10-16, Hebrews 2:1).