finding my smile: part 4

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow”

Thomas Paine

Saturday morning Roxie came in my room waking me up. She wanted breakfast. I asked her to look out the window and tell me what the weather was like as Dan had a bike trip with students planned that day and the weather called for scattered showers. Pulling back the curtains and peering out the window, Roxie finally announced, "There's a blue sky. You just can't see it 'cuz it's covered by clouds. It's going to be a beautiful day!"

Joy robber

Roxie's perspective on the day's weather made me stop and think. The phrasing of her weather report showed more of what her character is like than what I should expect when I step outside my door. In Roxie's world, things aren't always what they seem. 

On this particular morning I had to question my own perspective. How often would I look at the clouds and see just that...clouds. Knowing full well that clouds come and go, I am still hung up, crippled, rendered powerless by the momentary situation with which I find myself faced.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 

2 Corinthians 4:17

Momentary trials

On a hike in the forest a few days ago, Dan and I were talking about how sick he had been the week previously. He was commenting on how well he felt and how it was like he couldn't even remember being sick. Isn't that a funny phenomenon? Does that ever happen to you? When I am sick I feel like I will never be cheerful again, like this is my new state of being, "Was I ever healthy?". When I am well, I can't imagine what it is like to feel sick. Aren't we strange creatures?

Same goes for a rough patch in life. Could be a relatively small scrape I've gotten myself into, or the big ones...death in the family, tragic accident, cancer, loss of a job etc... Maybe I am the only one who struggles with this stuff, but when I am in the thick of it I can't see the forest for all the trees.

While I am sitting here at 6 am, safe in my robe and in my small house, drinking coffee and typing away, not a care in the world, I can see clearly. Trials are momentary and the blue sky is there. The wind blows and change comes and the clouds move and the truth is revealed and joy remains ours for the taking. Yet, when we are enrobed in the shroud of disaster or suffering or mere annoyance, that sky looks cloudy and will always be cloudy. I have forgotten that the clouds will go away. They always go away.

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
2 Corinthians 10:5

If I knew God better, if I knew what He is like, maybe I would see more clearly...and know.

Unchanging

"Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

I am no meteorologist. But from 4th grade Earth Science I learned that the blue sky is an atmosphere always there encompassing our rotating orb. The clouds as weather are wanderers passing through bringing storms and rain on us all from time to time.

That atmosphere. This is a constant. Tho' for a short time it may be hidden from us we know it is there. We will see the sky again.

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Hebrews 11:1

My joy is awakened knowing that God is there. A constant in this fickle, pulsating, whirling dirvish that brings bad and good to everyone. A holdfast in the storm. My hope. My rescue and salvation.

It's going to be a beautiful day.