Last Wednesday morning a friend of ours called my husband and left a message that he needed help with his computer. My husband left a message back – typical “voice mail tag.” We all play this kind of tag numerous times during a given day.
The difference is our friend was in a serious accident a few hours after he left the voicemail – an accident from which he did not recover, at least in this world.
Another friend’s father also entered his eternal home this week-end, following a lengthy illness.
Yet another friend is in the hospital as I write, battling the dreaded disease of cancer and has decided to opt out of any kind of treatment – she is ready to be with Jesus.
In the midst of all of this pain and suffering -- a baby was born this week-end AND I walked by a young woman who is pregnant – just beginning to ‘show’ – and she is glowing!
I was in my car this morning, taking some time away from the office. The sky was dark, leaves were blowing off the trees, and the rain came! My heart was heavy – so much pain, so many people suffering. I was driving a bit aimlessly, realizing that my chosen destination would not work, for it was outside – and IT WAS RAINING AND COLD AND WINDY! No way could I sit on a bench in a beautiful garden-setting to do my journaling.
In my aimless wandering, I found myself heading west - thinking and pondering and praying – so much pain and suffering and sadness. And right in the middle of it all I just happened to look up -- and I SAW IT! A beautiful rainbow – God’s promise. It was amazing! God is definitely a God of hope, a God who keeps His promises. A simple reminder that the rainbow of promise comes out of the darkness in our lives.
Had I been sitting in a sun-drenched garden this morning I would still have been feeling heavy and sad and weighted down with the suffering all around me. BUT because God had something different, something better for me, I was in my car, headed west with my lights and windshield wipers on, and I experienced the touch of God – that touch a loving Father brings to His children – His rainbow of promise!
God is a God of life and death. If I only see one, I miss His faithful promises. If I only see the other, I miss His new beginnings.
SO – I say with the Psalmist, in Psalm 51…Lord, in the midst of the balance of life, “Help me to hear and see joy and gladness all around me!”