Although it was after nine o'clock in the evening, light filled the sky and everything could be seen clearly! The storm had passed, and all that was left was the sound of rain water dripping of the trees. I had made my way to the back porch and taken a seat that I might enjoy the last few moments of daylight. A long day at work had taken its toll on me and my energy was drained. I looked out into the world that had just endured the torrent of a severe storm and, out in the distance, I saw the faintest sliver of the Sun just on the edge of the horizon.
It is easy to take for granted the beauty of God's creation. Far too often we miss it completely amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life and our technology-drowned culture. Tonight, however, I found myself in wonder of the beautiful landscape behind my home. I sat down and began to look around, intentionally looking for all that there was to be seen. It didn't take me but a moment to realize that the light that filled the air around me left the world curiously blue. I mean literally blue! It was if the sky above had reached down and laid itself upon the ground, or as if the rain that had fallen had first been filled with blue dye before being cast to the earth.
Now, there most certainly were colors other blue. There were vivid greens of the grass and trees, and there were various shades of browns, and there was even the occasional yellow. But all of these had seemed to have a bluish tint to them. It was a beautiful, and almost alien, sight that I couldn't help but stare at in wonder.
Soon afterwards, fireflies began to light up among the tress and in the grass. The yellow light of their abdomens seemed to be the only thing left untouched by the blueness around them, and it even seemed that they were yellower than ordinary fireflies and that they shined even brighter as well! There I stood and watched the beauty of that elfin world for as long as I could, waiting for the last bit of daylight to fade away and for all the blue to turn to blackness. I had the privilege of seeing the work of God anew and, for a brief moment in time, caught a very small glimpse of His glory and splendor!
I implore you: set aside the cell phone, turn off the television and the laptop, and take a moment to see the world around you. Perhaps you need to remember that there is this thing called "grass" that grows just a few feet beyond your doorstep, or perhaps that there are flowing things called "rivers" that you have neglected to swim in this (increasingly hot) summer. Even more importantly, perhaps you need to take a moment to notice that creature that sits but a few feet away from you staring at his or her own computer screen which you have, most unintentional, forgot was present and was bestowed the title of "human".
We were made to worship God by living in and enjoying His glorious presence and His creation, but h can we do that when we can't even put down our not-so-smartphones to have remember the beauty of true friendship and the presence of real people in our lives. Stop looking at other peoples' Instagrams of the world and take a step outside your door. Maybe you will find a world bathed in blue and a thousand fireflies waiting to greet the night with you.
Grace and Peace,
Stephen
It is easy to take for granted the beauty of God's creation. Far too often we miss it completely amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life and our technology-drowned culture. Tonight, however, I found myself in wonder of the beautiful landscape behind my home. I sat down and began to look around, intentionally looking for all that there was to be seen. It didn't take me but a moment to realize that the light that filled the air around me left the world curiously blue. I mean literally blue! It was if the sky above had reached down and laid itself upon the ground, or as if the rain that had fallen had first been filled with blue dye before being cast to the earth.
Now, there most certainly were colors other blue. There were vivid greens of the grass and trees, and there were various shades of browns, and there was even the occasional yellow. But all of these had seemed to have a bluish tint to them. It was a beautiful, and almost alien, sight that I couldn't help but stare at in wonder.
Soon afterwards, fireflies began to light up among the tress and in the grass. The yellow light of their abdomens seemed to be the only thing left untouched by the blueness around them, and it even seemed that they were yellower than ordinary fireflies and that they shined even brighter as well! There I stood and watched the beauty of that elfin world for as long as I could, waiting for the last bit of daylight to fade away and for all the blue to turn to blackness. I had the privilege of seeing the work of God anew and, for a brief moment in time, caught a very small glimpse of His glory and splendor!I implore you: set aside the cell phone, turn off the television and the laptop, and take a moment to see the world around you. Perhaps you need to remember that there is this thing called "grass" that grows just a few feet beyond your doorstep, or perhaps that there are flowing things called "rivers" that you have neglected to swim in this (increasingly hot) summer. Even more importantly, perhaps you need to take a moment to notice that creature that sits but a few feet away from you staring at his or her own computer screen which you have, most unintentional, forgot was present and was bestowed the title of "human".
We were made to worship God by living in and enjoying His glorious presence and His creation, but h can we do that when we can't even put down our not-so-smartphones to have remember the beauty of true friendship and the presence of real people in our lives. Stop looking at other peoples' Instagrams of the world and take a step outside your door. Maybe you will find a world bathed in blue and a thousand fireflies waiting to greet the night with you.
Grace and Peace,
Stephen
