Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by God’s creativity that I have no praise worthy, and can only stand hopelessly by and know that He knows the words He would have me use and hears them instead of the ones I can’t seem to know to say. These pictures tell the thousand-word blog I didn’t write, and you wouldn’t read.
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| Even in this cold weather, these are His lillies on the pond where we ride bikes every morning. |
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| The full moonset yesterday morning at Fair Haven |
I attended a funeral last night. It was immersive in that half of it was performed for the deaf. I say I performed because the deaf communicate bodily, a visual pantomime transferring information, emotion, spiritual truths, music, and wisdom, all without sound. When it is done well, it is like a symphonic opera to watch. When the audience is of the deaf and hearing the event is a celestial pageant befitting the sacredness of one passing from here to eternity. This funeral was done well. It was like the deep awareness we all feel inside as divine events transpire being given physicality; a bodily recital of grief, sorrow, joy, and hope in the deceased now living forevermore. There is nothing in the hearing world to equal it, a physical liturgy of holiness worthy of God’s affairs.
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| A Greater Love by Darin Ashby |
I am an old man, fairly simple. Last evening, as I pulled back my curtain, I found myself late to sunset. I also found myself locked in with a lock that bedeviled my old fingers to open, putting me in a state of urgency. Finally, successfully opening it and walking out in the yard for the full view, I was amused at myself for finding the sunset so important. Thus, I reminded myself that there are limited sunsets in an old man’s life. I was then startled because I began to weep with joy and was momentarily lost as to why I was responding so. However, almost immediately, I began to praise God for it was His Almightyness I was being a part of. Earth spinning away from Sunstar is a Divine rollercoaster, The Suncoaster, and I should hurry to get on. Later, my lover and I sat on the swing down by the river watching night become and I began to tell her things I like, beginning with sunsets. I like knowing all the knowing I have of 66 years. I like a good kiss. I like being in quiet, like nature, the softness of it. I like sitting close to her. I like a good dog and a good book. I like hearing our grandfather clock chime. I like thinking simply good thoughts… like God making Himself knowable to the old and fairly simple.
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| I told my lover she was primping for the Suncoaster ride! |
I am a wasted man, my emotion spent, sitting numb and with little life at my morning altar. I seek to revive a spark of life, a revival leading into this Sunday morning coming down. I have strong coffee, which my lover made earlier this morning before bed. I have read The Word and prayed. I opened the door and looked at the stars, knowing it was foggy and cold this morning. I am spent out. It was ugly, crippling stages of greatness bookended with bewildering ineptness. It seemed to go on forever. We got home after one. It’s tough to be a Tennessee Vol. Big Orange 23-that other team 17.
This week, I stood the closest to death as I ever have been. I witnessed how American medicine functioned at the end of life. It was loving and caring. My lover was a dear friend of the dying; I, a friend through her. When the time came, the doctor asked if the family was on the way and was assured they were. She administered a drug that wouldn’t prolong life but would allow the heart to continue to work for a little longer, hoping all the loved ones could arrive. I was deeply moved. The monitor immediately reflected the dying heart's change from an occasional weak beat to a steady rhythm. We said our goodbyes to a renewing beloved. The family began to arrive. We left. They died an hour later and, in a twinkling, arrived in paradise, where they were welcomed home.
I spend every morning with God and His earth, just Him, it, and me. I am reminded I am a performer, a man on a stage pouring forth myself in honor of Him. This is why I always try and place myself within the earth. It knows how to perform. All its glory and beauty open the day declaring His glorious kindness and creativity. Every actor knows its lines, hits its spot, and delivers a stunning performance. I like that about the earth, it knows its place and purpose.
I find it deeply moving that the Bible gives us a clear picture of the sincere obedience of the created world. “Hush be still.” and the wind and waves say, “Yes, Sir!”, the fig tree dies, the whirlwind is made host for God, water changes to wine, sticks sprout almonds, birds bring bread, donkeys talk, and my favorite, stones are reserved for singing praises. I have often picked up a stone and asked what praises it would say. Humans are the only ones who get to talk back to God, but only for a season. Eventually, He is going to say, “Get on your knees and bow down to Me!” and every one of us will say, “Yes, Sir!” Yesterday while bike riding I pointed toward the blue sky for Betty to look but as I did I began to wave at the blue. I laughed at myself because I knew, it was blue because He said, “Be blue!” and the sky said, “OK!” Ok is the best response when God is talking to you whether man, beast, or blue.
Amid unimaginable sorrow, the sky was as blue as clear sapphire. How can this be, tragic, hope? One defying the other? Mountains of debris and an old man slowly sweeping it up one speck at a time. Bitterness all around while Hersey Bars were passed out. Blue skies, sweepers, chocolate. Acres of destruction surrounding an acre of supplies. A beautiful young woman, covered in mud, weeping as she told of all the “Christians just showing up!” In all the disasters of life let this be known, Christ is the first to show up.
This is why He made blue, servants, chocolate, givers, thankers…and you. “To whom much is given, much is required...You are my ambassadors…In as much as you have done it to the least of these my brothers, you have done it to Me.”
