Hint of the Holy

I found myself outside on the balcony at the beach at 6:30am yesterday morning to watch it all unfold. The whole process lasted almost an hour, from the first faint promise of light to the glorious sunrise. There was a lone man walking in the opposite direction from the sunrise. I wanted to scream from my balcony, "TURN AROUND ... DON'T MISS THIS!" I didn't ... and he missed it.

I shared this with someone and he said, "This perspective, this sunrise, is meant for you only. It is a gift for you."

I thought that sunrises are all the same, certainly equally spectacular, perfectly timed as only God can do. But this morning, unlike yesterday

morning, those few who were walking on the beach in the cold morning air stopped and turned to watch it unfold. A small boat moving in the opposite direction turned toward the sunrise as well. And then, instead of the sunrise that I saw yesterday, there were hints of brilliance outlining the clouds and peaking through the clouds. This is surely what God does every single day, isn't it? Peaking through and into our lives, hinting at the brilliance of Holy Presence. How beautiful a thought that this happens every day, at some point in our day and in some way in our lives. So, this morning, I'm sharing the 'hint of the Holy' as a reminder to stop and turn, to look around, to see God's Presence in the most unexpected moments of our lives.

Perhaps my friend's words were right on target. How can we tell another person to stop, turn, look around, seek and receive if we first haven't received the gift of the hint of the Holy ... if we first haven't done the very same thing?

 

"Through the Eyes of Faith"

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

(The words of Helen Keller)
I, who cannot see, find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough shaggy bark of a pine.... I feel the delightful, velvety texture of a flower, and discover its remarkable convolutions; and something of the miracle of Nature is revealed to me.

Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song.... At times my heart cries out with longing to see these things. If I can get so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight.

Yet, those who have eyes apparently see little. The panorama of color and action which fills the world is taken for granted.... It is a great pity that, in the world of light, the gift of sight is used only as a mere convenience rather than as a means of adding fullness to life.

(Now words from me)

It is the promise of Fall that the foliage will change from greens to golds and reds and oranges. I have heard that the colors are beautiful in the higher elevations of North Carolina, but on my hour's drive yesterday heading in the direction of the mountains, I saw only greens. Yet, I know that there is such breath-taking beauty there even without seeing it ... and I know that soon the greens in my world will change to golds and reds and oranges as well. I know this to be true because the Creator of all promises this to me each and every Fall season.

"See" with everything that is within you, friends ... even (and especially) through the eyes of faith!

 
Blessings ... anna