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In my ministerial life there are those moments that persons come to me wanting some answers. Sometimes their lives are in such a mess they look at me with help written all over themselves. At such times, I feel helpless. How can I a mere human provide answers to some of life’s most difficult happenings? How can I help someone live in a difficult place? More than once I have sat in my chair feeling the pain of the person speaking and knowing in my heart that mere words are never going to be enough. I secretly pray that my words may bring not only relief but somehow point to some light in their darkness.
Perhaps I should have said Light with a capital L. It has taken me many years to see that God is the only answer to life’s most messy moments. I have found myself looking for answers when I should have been looking at The Answer. I am aware that this may sound like a word game but it is not. When life comes me and I am doubled up in pain, I look upward and ask for strength and wisdom to go on. Life is not about the answers but about The One who is the answer.
Each morning that I walk my dog I spend time in prayer with God. It is my time to just enjoy God’s presence in many ways. Sometimes my wife joins me in the walk and we often pray together. (Really she verbalizes more than I do but together we praise God) This morning she used an expression in looking at the beautiful colors of the fall season. The trees were amazing and the sun was shining on them like a spotlight. Out of the blue, Phyllis casually speaks out that God is showing off again. I have never thought of God as one who shows off but it did start me to thinking. Indeed all of creation is marvelous and does speak of a Creator who is capable of amazing beauty. And that beauty stands out all seasons of the year.
As I write these words I am close to going home and preparing for a bike ride. I want to see the trees and beauty again. I want to let God show off His handiwork to me. I encourage you to take a look at the creation that shows us a part of the Creator’s beauty.
Getting up this morning I was greeted by a little drizzle. This was not the first time this week that precipitation has greeted me. It seems like every day this week there has been some amount of rain in the air. I normally don’t think of Illinois as a rainy place but this week has caused me to wonder. In my mind I know that the rain is needed. All of this has gotten me to wondering if the weather does influence how we feel and act. I know that on sunny days I feel like doing more outside activities but the rain also makes me feel like reading a good book or watching a movie.
I admit that I am more of an emotional person. This is in many ways good. But there are some not so good parts to it, too. I feel good or bad much quicker than the situation demands it. That is one of the reasons that I need a good strong relationship with a Loving Heavenly Father. I have to count on Him to give me a balanced view of life. He is the steady hand that guides me through some troubling and calm waters. I know the rain will not last forever but I am counting on God’s guidance to always be there.
I got up this morning and went for a walk with my dog, Pablo. In the middle of the walk it rained. It started up as a gently rain and then before I knew what was happening it was a down pour. I got wet. Pablo got wet but it didn’t seem to bother him as much as I. Not only did we get wet but we were soaked. Life has those moments of being rained on. They are not the most pleasant of times but they do stand out. It may be hard to believe but some of those moments wake me up and cause me to thank God.
At such times I thank God for the strength to be able to go on. I thank God for rain wear that keeps me a bit dry. I thank God that the rains do not come at me all the time. I thank God that the rain helps life to go on. Are you getting the idea? As I write these words the sun has appeared and the rain has stopped. Maybe I should have waited to walk the dog or maybe not.