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4/12/2013

I promise

This morning I uttered many silent prayers before stirring in our bed. I finally (and unwillingly) got up, walked to the kitchen, opened the blinds to sunshine, fed the cats, set the kettle to whistling, and poured boiling water over dark roast in the French press. Praise the Lord. The heartening smell of coffee is a promise: Everything is going to be okay.

Even so, my soul needed a sweet talkin' to. I turned to Psalm 104:

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
—vs. 1-2

I went on a walk and the sky was blue for miles. A small bird's bright yellow beak flew by with the speed of a shooting star. Lavender wildflowers quilted the grass. An orange butterfly meandered along my path whispering, Peace to you. Birds lingered on branches and golden light splashed their feathers. I said, "Hey, there." They did not flee. A neighbor's tree was lush with antique white blooms of grace and rainbow leaves. I looked at the sky — delicate, wispy strings of clouds emanated from the horizon like a child's sketch of the sun. The heavens declare the glory of God, He said, just in case I didn't get it. I caught the scent of jasmine as I turned the corner toward home.

Today felt like the incarnation of a rainbow sprouted from the leaves of my neighbor's tree. God arched a band of colors across the sky for Noah as a sign that He would never again destroy mankind or the earth by water. Likewise, He has given me promises of great things to come in my life. Some days, like today, I'm tempted to doubt. But I was walking around in a promise. We are always walking around in a promise.

. . . I just read a footnote for Genesis 5:29:

'Noah' sounds like the Hebrew for 'rest.'

Breathe. Everything is going to be more than okay.

6 comments:

gileskirk said...

Transcendent beauty reflecting a transcendent love. Thank you.

jenni said...

Such a kind, beautiful comment. Thank you.

GretchenJoanna said...

I must be walking around in a promise, too....Thank you so much for this. I really needed it.

GretchenJoanna said...

Oh, and the photo - isn't that a photinia? We used to have a big one like this at our last house. It makes me happy to see yours.

Christine said...

Ahhhh...not just okay but more than okay. Thank you, thank you.

jenni said...

Gretchen: I believe it is a Photinia tree! I've always wanted to know what it is — thank you. :)