It was 101 degrees in the shade today, as I was grading out the back yard for our future raised bed gardens. It was a lot of back and forth, repetitious work that might drive a fella crazy, but it needed to be done. Back and forth, grading out the earth until I had a semblance of a drainable surface.
Just when I began to see the work take shape, I actually rip up an old power line to the pole barn. Somewhat disappointing!
Recently the days have had some minor disappointments. Nothing compared to those who are under persecution, who are struggling in the face of powerful people who hate the Messiah. I pray for them, asking that the Lord would strengthen them.
In no way am I trying to communicate that my trials are in any way comparable to those who suffer active persecution. May God be working in those saints to bring about the victory they seek.
For myself, this short story is simply recounted to describe mild disappointments in an old saint’s life. Mild disappointments that seem to be piling up.
The last few months have been rough at the office. It is very slow at work, with very few projects available to justify our employment.
My daughter has had some very difficult days lately, and when trials touch one of my children, I tend to be affected, tend to be a bit consumed with concern.
Don’t even ask me about my wife. She had a minor traffic accident a week back, and I just about lost my mind when she called me. Of course I put on a brave front, but when it comes to my wife, that nerve is a raw one!
I think the transmission is going out on our truck.
Invoices for my work are not being paid, leaving us holding a bag of bills.
Recently one of my clients threatened legal action. It was a baseless threat, but the initial impact on my thought life was a bit more than expected.
I could go on, but I fear I am sounding like a whiner.
But I named this post “Blue Skies”, for a reason. As I finished up the grading work this evening, realizing I still had hours of work left, I turned the old beast off and took a moment to sit still.
During my grading, I am constantly looking down at the earth, checking for level, checking the box blade, checking the front bucket. Consumed with looking down.
For that brief moment as I shut the beast down, I looked up. I looked up to blue skies, crystal blue skies, with cumulus clouds scattered about.
The bluest of skies.
And everything drained out of me. All the minor disappointments, those little paper cuts of life that I recounted above, and others that are deeper in my heart, disappeared.
I looked up. And in looking up, I had a few moments when all the stressors of life, all the concerns I dwell in, all the anxiety I allow simply didn’t exist.
The sky was blue, and I sensed it was fathomless, with no deviation of color, and that it had always been above me.
I looked up and experienced an unexpected peacefulness, and in the midst of that peacefulness, sensed the Lord’s presence.
I am truly an unworthy man, blessed by the Lord of Glory, the Crucified One. He suffered and died on an old rugged cross to rescue sinners, giving us a path of reconciliation with the Father of Peace.
Truly the Lord is good.
Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 135:3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!
Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Look up when life is constantly drawing your attention to the earth. Look up and see that the Lord is good.
He is so good.
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