Today was a hazy day with wispy clouds high in the sky. Unseasonably warm temps coaxed Jack and I to the beach for an outdoor prayer time, a special treat. Walking the waveless waterline in bare feet was surely wading on borrowed time.
When we left the beach to run errands, I glanced back to appreciate the view. “The sunset will be beautiful tonight with these streaky clouds,” I told Jack.
Hours later I was taking advantage of a senior citizen day at the nearest Kohl’s (22 miles away) and noticed a pinkish light streaming through the windows and across the clothing racks, a wildly colorful sunset going on just across the parking lot.
Heading for the windows with an armload of clothes, I marveled at the magnificent view. Amazingly, the crowd pushing hangers back and forth nearby was unaware of the light show outside.
Watching pink, blue, purple and gold layers ripple across the sky like theater floodlights, I knew God was doing something spectacular, so dug in my purse for the camera I always carry. When I couldn’t find it, I wondered how I could ever “save” the sunset without it.
Before I could figure that out, though, the colors began to fade, and the opportunity was gone.
As I walked to the fitting room, I couldn’t figure out why my spirits were so low. What was there to be sad about? The bargains were good, the selection was great, time was ample and I’d just enjoyed a gorgeous sunset. What bothered me was my inability to get a picture. Without the picture, I had no evidence of what I’d just seen.
As expected, none of the clothes looked good on me, because my heart wasn’t in it. While driving home, I thought about the sunset and realized I’d been more concerned about getting the picture than seeing the actual sunset. And immediately I thought of Nate. Last night I’d gotten lost in my photo albums until well past midnight. Every picture with Nate in it had become a treasure, because of course there will be no more taken.
And that’s what was bothering me.
A photo can’t hold a sunset any more than a picture could have held Nate. But my thoughts said, “You should have taken more pictures. He’s gone now. You squandered your chances.” I recognized this as the quiet voice of mourning. Although I’ve been feeling better lately, I knew the old sense of sadness could bubble up at any time.
It’s at moments like this that God’s promises of heavenly reunions move in and lift us. “Looking at” the mental picture of reconnecting with loved ones is enough to obliterate negative self-talk and put bright hope in its place. Although I have no photos of heaven in my albums, those glorious reunions are worth trying to “see”.
I can’t post a current picture of Nate, nor can I show one of tonight’s sunset or of a heavenly reunion. But having no pictures can’t negate the wondrous reality of all three.
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1)
Margaret, I call them sunset alerts at our house. I have been known to make everyone run outside to see what God has placed in the sky for us to behold.
Because I leave early for work each day I also get the opportunity to witness God’s handiwork first thing in the morning and, like you, I’m usually looking for a camera to capture a sunset every now and then. Each day we get two spectacular sky shows that most people never notice.
One of my other favorite light shows that I usually wish I had my camera handy is when there are rays of light beaming from the sun – I usually stop and pray because I see that as God opening heaven’s doors and welcoming home a child of his. Silly thought probably, but it helps me turn my focus to the eternal.
A verse that makes me smile is the one that says “And Mary treasured all these things in her heart.” She didn’t have a camera, or her creative memory books and yet she was able to remember what was important. My camera is never far from my reach and while I still have opportunities to take pictures of loved ones, it is amazing how many times I forget.
Funny how we enjoyed the same beautiful sunset just a few hundred miles apart and neither one of us got it on film 🙂 Thanks for your post today.
Hugs from across the state. Judy
Hi Margaret,
Your blog without pictures is quite a visual. It looks a little barren, deliberate of course today.
Both you an Judy have well trained camera lenses given long before Kodak came into the picture (ha, ha).
I have been told I need to stop and smell the roses more often, the equivalent to taking note of the light show you observed outside of Kohl’s. I think I miss so much of what God wants to “say” to me external to His Book.
God, of course, wants us to trust His Word, and except for children’s versions, the pages are devoid of actual pictures, sterile looking like today’s blog. Yet, He knows how much we need visuals to back up what it says. I would take up far too much blog space to recount all of the object ways in which Scripture records He showed Himself to the Israelites, to the nations, and to the church.
When God finally spoke to Job, He took him through a powerful nature field trip, which left Job in a heap of repentant dust and ashes. He had heard of Him with his ears, but then he saw Him with His eyes through what He had made.
Human goofiness looks for Cheese Sandwich Jesus and Tree Knothole Jesus, and these “sightings” get posted on the internet and published in books as miracle sightings.
How is it that we miss the real sightings every day. Romans 1 tells us His invisible attributes are made known and understood through what He has created. I’ve got to get out more!
And if that wasn’t enough, He sent His Son, and when Philip asked to see the Father, Jesus essentially said you’re looking at Him. Throughout His life we get pictures of the heart of the father. Even in death, God gave a picture of the horrors of sin and the extent of His love. The only visual that trumps the cross is the observation of what was not there three days later. It was absence that produced evidence and caused belief among His followers.
And like Thomas, who needed a visual confirmation, God leads us right where we need to poke our fingers to remove doubt.
I think I’m going to go take a walk now, take a few “snapshots” with my eyes, and increase the treasures in my heart. Since it’s November, I can’t stop to smell the roses, but every other display can give me pause.
Love,
Terry
We had a beautiful sunset here last night too. I was outside just after the sun went down, pulling Micah and Sky around the block in the wagon. Sky got so excited when she saw the moon and first star appear. Someday when she’s older I’ll explain that we named her after one of God’s most beautiful creations. Sometimes we read through that yellow book you made me for my “golden birthday” — the one filled with sunset photos and verses. You trained me to always notice the sky and let it remind me of God. I miss you and can’t wait to see you at Christmas.
Oh, I love sunsets and sunrises.I sit in awe of God’s creative artwork. The sunsets have a calming affect after a busy day. and with the sunrises, it is like God saying “tada, here is another beautiful day created for you!”
Living in Africa, as a child, we saw the Marmatan Winds bring the very red, violet sutsets. I remember them well. Dad said that the very slim cresent moon sliver was God’s thumbnail. God still has His hand on this earth and Dad’s reference of the moon always reminds me of who is in control.
Marmatan, should be Harmattan. ooops.