Month: December 2009

I lay my head on the body of the guitar with my ear pressed against the curve of the wood. As I strummed on the strings, I loved the hum and vibrations. There was a rich depth I couldn’t hear with my natural ears until I pressed in as close as I could get to the guitar. A recollection of a friend’s writing came. Her sharing was about how John had laid his head upon the chest of Jesus.

I wondered about that again. What did he hear that none of the other disciple’s heard? What rich hum and vibration depth was he privy to? Resting my ear on the musical instrument, I wanted to listen to every note as played. I wanted it to come deep into my soul so I’d hear the song always.

John 13:23 (NAS) There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

I will give you free rent…..but what would it cost?

I will give you a free ride…..but what would it cost?

I will give you free food….but what would it cost?

I will give you free friends…but what would it cost?

I will give you free dreams…but what would it cost?

I will give you free hope…..but what would it cost?

I will give you freedom…but what would it cost?

A fence blocked free access to the park, so I stood with my fingers holding the chain links and looked at the scene before me. My heart hurt for multiple reasons as I stood under gray clouds in the cold. The disarray was everywhere. Garbage, stacks of boards, overgrown grass and bushes. Stairs had fallen over and paint was faded. The swings were rusting and sun bleached. The hardest to look at were the empty pools where you could still see the once lovely blue tiles.

Restoration was needed. Sun was essential to light up all the dark places of this park. The pools must be filled again. The children had to come back and run free in this place meant for joy. They needed to swim in rejuvenating waters once more. Laughter had to find its way back to this seemingly forgotten place.

It was time to go and I took one final look at all that was needed. It seemed impossible and only one word would do. Restoration….for that place and for all the seemingly forgotten places.

Leaving my car I took my iPod and journal to walk in the cold. The pond was so still today, there was no wind to ripple the waters. I was reminded of “He leads me beside the still waters” and I began to wonder at the restoration of my soul.

A frustration hindered me that I was not where I had wanted to be yet. I felt blind to see anything but what I was going through in the hour. A temptation came to feel beaten up in my failures. I pulled the iPod out of my pocket and turned up the song I was listening to…”and I’ll wait and be still“…perfect timing. I had to trust the process and understand everything has a purpose and there is a season and time for everything. I was reminded of a promise…..

Phil 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus

I walked alone, wondering about being in the shelter and shadow of wings, when I saw a majestic eagle in my mind’s eye. I stopped walking for a moment and concentrated on this beautiful creature. Such magnificent presence, and I saw real strength in its countenance. I had never noticed the wings before, their power or wingspan. I took a closer look at this bird of prey and saw its head crowned with white feathers; such purity in color.  Out of these white feathers were brilliant eyes not easily distracted; they were focused and clear.

Being curious I looked up websites about eagles and learned they have a wingspan of about eight feet. An amusing note is “eagle-eyed” which refers to their keen eyesight. Their behavior is something interesting. When they mate it’s for life. Their flight displays for courting are as pairs, flying to high altitude, locking feet together, and then tumbling and cart-wheeling toward the ground, breaking off at the last moment.

Can you imagine the excitement of soaring as an eagle in your life? What incredible heights you may reach, but also how far you may tumble in your relationship with the most exciting power and strength you have ever imagined…always safe, so you never hit the ground…all for love.

The jewels in life we are given don’t always seem obvious. When we think about how diamonds are made this is a real lesson in our natural life. A quick look on any geographical page shows us the pressure and temperatures necessary to create a precious rock.

Then again…sometimes jewels just show up when we least expect….and in unexpected ways…reminds me of people I have come to know…

The clouds have been upon us. Looking out of my kitchen window it had been storming all afternoon but I caught a glimpse of blue sky. Being alone, I impulsively turned up my stereo and listened to a song of declaration. It has been sung around the world for decades but not many recognize its truth…..I do….and so I dance in my kitchen, spinning and laughing while I look out the window at the parting clouds to see glimpses of the sun coming….

Daybreak (by Barry Manilow)

I’m singin’ to the world, it’s time we let the spirit come in
Let it come on in
I’m singin’ to the world, everybody’s caught in the spin
Look at where we’ve been
We’ve been runnin’ around, year after year
Blinded with pride, blinded with fear

But it’s daybreak, if you wanna believe
It can be daybreak, ain’t no time to grieve
Said it’s daybreak if you’ll only believe
And let it shine, shine, shine
All around the world (sing it to the world, sing, sing)

Singin’ to the world, what’s the point in puttin’ it down?
There’s so much love to share
I’m singin’ to the world, don’t you see it all comes around?
The feeling’s everywhere
We’ve been closin’ our eyes, day after day
Covered in clouds, losin’ our way

Hey, but it’s daybreak
If you wanna believe, it can be daybreak
Ain’t no time to grieve
Said it’s daybreak, if you’ll only believe
And let it shine, shine, shine
All around the world (gotta sing, sing it to the world)

Isa60:1-3 (TNIV) “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

The windshield cracked, a headlight went out, our signal was getting snowy, bills were keeping finances very tight, a favorite shoe was showing a hole, windows were steaming between panes, the fireplace was smoky, too many light bulbs had burnt out in a couple rooms, the carpet had been chewed through by the dog leaving a fat hole by the door, the roof had leaked over the water heater in the storm, the iron leaked water, the refrigerator didn’t have anything tasty in it, the motion lights had gone black, the lawn needed a rake, a new stain on the driveway meant a repair, the foot hadn’t yet healed from a twist, and the holiday season was already upon us.

These were but a few of the items to fill our list today and in the middle of it all, it was time to stop and be thankful so that’s what we do. We are thankful for the jobs which keep us too busy to tend to all that needs to be done in any given day, week or month. We are thankful for the cars which get us back and forth to our jobs and the other enjoyments we participate in. We are thankful for our precious house which needs upkeep but keeps us warm and dry. We are thankful for the provisions to pay the bills. We are thankful to have a fireplace which heats our homes on those nights we can be home to enjoy it. We are thankful for the ragged carpet which is soft beneath our feet and the list of thanks goes on far longer than our needs.

For every uncomfortable situation before us, there is a reason for us to draw our minds to appreciation and thankfulness. Sometimes we can’t be grateful for what we have without understanding what it would be like without it.