There’s an old legend about a beautiful swan that one day alighted on a lake where a crane was wading around in the shallows searching for snails. The crane looked at the swan in wonder, then asked where it came from. “I come from heaven!” replied the swan. “And what is heaven?” asked the crane. So the beautiful bird went on to describe a realm of unutterable beauty and blessedness. Finally the crane asked: “Are there any snails there?” “No! Of course there are not.” The swan replied. “Well,” said the crane, “You can have your heaven. I want snails!”
How easy it is to forfeit the glory we were created for because we can’t see beyond the little things of this life. It’s what Jesus meant when he talked about people who look, but don’t see; and listen, but don’t hear. They just don’t get it.