Storm or Tranquility?

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day…Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46: 1-5, 10 NIV)

            Peace enveloped me when I stepped onto my porch. What a contrast to last night’s storm.

            Wind battered trees. Gales formed swells on the lake and threw them in every direction.

            Rain pelted my windows and screen. As I tried to pull patio furniture to the middle of the porch, a crack of thunder sent me running inside. Lightning flashed nearby.

            For hours, rain continued. Red splotches on the weather radar hovered over my community. Lights blinked but never went out. Gradually, the wind lessened but the rain persisted.

            At dawn, I looked for storm damage but saw none. Instead, serenity greeted me with the sunrise.

            Gray whispy clouds danced across the lake. Sunlight sparkled on vibrant grass and colorful flowers. Droplets fell from my oak tree. Cypress limbs drooped because of waterlogged needles. Wind and rain bent decorative grasses like old men. But nothing seemed to be destroyed.

            A movement caught my eye as I did my morning devotions. At the end of the lake, a doe and her white fawn jogged along the shoreline. Finally, I saw the unusual offspring my neighbors had seen on previous days.

            As the sun warmed the air, water evaporated. Droopy limbs sprung back into place. Decorative grasses stood tall and waved in the breeze. Clouds disappeared and blue sky returned.

            After the evening tempest, God provided delightful surprises at dawn. I had a choice to make. I could focus on the frightening storm or the peace afterward.  Remembering His faithfulness during past storms, helped me decide to embrace the tranquility.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and care in the rain and the sunshine.  Amen

Blooms from Brokenness

After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

(1 Peter 5: 10 ESV)

            A wooden tower of orchids enhanced my patio garden. I moved it to different locations to find the right amount of sunlight.  Even with instructions from friends who were more knowledgeable than I was, some of the plants could have looked better.

            One day I noticed a long, broken stem on one plant.  As it fell towards the floor, it split almost in half. I planned to cut it off later that day but forgot.

            Each morning when I sat on a chair beside the disfigured plant, I remembered that I hadn’t taken care of the stem. Day after day I got busy when I went into the house.

            The rest of the plant remained a vibrant green. Only the stem appeared brown. Surprisingly, after a couple of weeks, tiny buds dotted the end of the broken stem.

            No longer did I think of cutting it off. Every day buds grew larger on the split stem and on the healthy one next to it.

            Watching the growth of the broken plant became a part of my daily devotional time. God spoke to me through the damaged plant.

            My orchid should not have bloomed in its pitiful condition. According to the world, people in difficult circumstances shouldn’t either. I have seen people bloom who are going through painful diseases, grief, and untold losses. Though crushed and splintered, they find hope, strength, and peace as God holds them up. They inspire and comfort others.

Father, thank you for broken plants and people that bloom because of your love. Amen 

Hidden in Plain View

My the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us, establish the work of our hands for us-yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17 NIV)

            By moving to a different chair on my patio, the view gave me a new perspective of the lake and shoreline. I gazed at familiar and less familiar trees from a different angle.

            The bee I watched each morning was closer so I could see his wings vibrate as he pulled nectar from orange flowers. Several smaller bees foraged for pollen on purple and pink flowers.

            My nearby crepe myrtle, though not yet blooming, received a hovering humming bird for a few seconds before it zoomed away.

            A scarlet cardinal flew from oak to cypress tree and back. His golden mate joined him as they soared across the lake.

            Dragonflies zoomed above the peaceful lake and water plants.

            Tiny insects glistened in the sunlight as they swirled in an erratic column. There didn’t appear to be a pattern or purpose to their frenzy.

            The creatures with the variety of wings, size, and movements enthralled me. Each one had a place in God’s creation. With a brief glance, I would have missed most of them and failed to appreciate the wonder and beauty of them all. Only when I sat quietly and watched intently did I fully see.

            Even the teeny gnats fascinated me with their energy but would normally be overlooked.

            As I stared at the teeny gnats, I thought of people who are hidden in the world. Physically, they are near but often overlooked. At church, lonely, discouraged worshipers could be sitting near me. Desperate patients might be joining me in the doctor’s waiting room. A neighbor might be longing for someone to call. A friend might be hurting behind a text or email. All feeling lonely and forgotten.

            Like the flying creatures in my yard that fascinated me when I took time to really look, I want to really see those around me clearly from God’s perspective. Then I can serve them with His love.

Father, thank you for continuing to teach me with your creation. Help me to see those who need your love. Amen

The Lifeless Plant

When they are lost, I will seek them and bring them back every last stray. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak… (Ezekiel 34: 16 The Voice)

            The leafless plant on my porch stood out amid more vibrant green ones. When Alan first learned of his pulmonary fibrosis, friends visited to pray and brought a pink flowered desert rose. Over the years, it bloomed bountifully and then appeared dead when the leaves all fell off.

            Normally, after a period of rest, leaves reappeared and blooms covered it. But for several months, it looked like a pot with a couple of sticks in the dirt. I tried watering and not watering. Moving to different locations for sunlight and shade. Nothing helped. Because of the special memories, I couldn’t discard it.

            I put it outside so I didn’t have to look at the forlorn plant. For weeks, it received no care from me. Water came from the sprinkler and rain. Morning sunlight shined on it.

            One day while I was working in my yard, I decided to throw the container away. Tiny spots of green emerged from brown stems. There was some life left so the plant remained in my yard.

            Weeks later, another surprise. A single, pink bud prepared to open.  The plant, which appeared to be dead, slowly returned to life without my help.

            I can’t fix every problem but I can step aside and let God take over.

Father, thank you for bringing life back to hopeless situations. Amen