Look and see and know
When we were younger we had a fascinating toy called a kaleidoscope, an optical cylinder that when rotated would create shifting and complex patterns of many colours. This toy would keep us occupied for quite a while because every time we rotated the bottom of the cylinder, the colours and patterns would move and interchange their colours and shapes.
We now live on Prince Edward Island and the skies of our beautiful island are like that kaleidoscope of yesteryear. As we drive from east to west, the skies are constantly changing in colour and intensity and the clouds take on a personality of their own. We are constantly blessed by the beauty of colour, shape and intensity God creates every evening for us to visually see how much He loves us.
Cavendish area is one of our favourite haunts (of course, we have many favourites and are blessed to be living where we can find so many wonderful places to enjoy!); while we enjoyed a coffee by the water, we were surrounded by a kaleidoscopic wonder in the heavens. Ira had his iPad with him so he was able to capture some of this miraculous slide show. It was as though someone was turning the cylinder of the kaleidoscope, to change the sky scenes quickly from hues of deep red, to pink, to yellow, intense blues and omniscient greys.
All of a sudden the sky was totally striped as if it were being painted while we watched the artist at work. One large, deep grey cloud appeared just ahead of our car and its edges were tinged with a sea-blue. Driving home this large cloud seemed to go ahead of us, stopping here and there to add more colour to its edges. Then the grey curtain pulled back and there was the bluest blue we had ever seen stretching across a large expanse of sky!
What an amazing display of awe-inspiring beauty we were privileged to see. God’s amazing handiwork is available everywhere – we need only to look up and see what He creates for us every morning and each evening. Remember this verse from the Bible: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” Psalm 19:1 (NKJV)
Max Lucado, in his book, God Came Near, describes these spectacular moments as “eternal instants.” “Such moments,” he says, “are to remind us that everything is okay. Life is still worth living and love remains the greatest possession. The future is nothing to fear.”
Have we experienced an eternal instant and just were unaware of what it was or how special it was? God is always amazing us if we look for His wonders in our everyday life. That friend who seems to know just when we need a listening ear or a hug, the email that arrives on a lonely afternoon reminding us someone is thinking about us, the sunrise telling us a new day has arrived and a new opportunity to live, love and explore and the sunset wrapping us in peace so we will have a restful night. All these eternal instants, and many more, happen all around us each and every day because God’s love is with us, surrounding us and keeping us safe.
The heavens do indeed declare His handiwork in the skies and in all of His creation.
May this week be one of special eternal instants that spur us on to a closer walk of faith and love with the One who watches over us and has created such splendour in our skies to remind us of His presence.
“You have done good things for your servant, as you have promised, Lord.” Psalm 119:65 (NCV).
or takeout.
January 31
In the Spirit – Pictou United Church 7 p.m., 47 James St. Singers, dancers, musicians, choirs and more. Tickets $10 at any Pictou church. A Pictou Town Churches project. Maranatha Bible Church – Team from Teen Challenge will share stories of addiction, recovery and restoration, 11 a.m., no cost. Christian movie The War Room will be shown, 6 p.m.