IT'S THE SECOND DAY of the year. The sound of that sentence alone rings so strangely as I mouth it. As the decades pile higher, I marvel all the more about this mysterious thing known as time! But my thoughts move toward the rain outside and Solomon’s discussion of the cycle of everything in life. Today the clouds are laden with frigid water, and the pandemic of two years persists. I find myself feeling a touch of depression. That is most uncharacteristic of me. In my mind, the sky almost always displays its brilliant spectrum of inspirational colors. This dreary day encourages me to succumb to its demands,
“Don’t bother writing today; just pull the covers over your head and dream on.”
Not one to surrender so easily, I threw on my clothes and snapped this photo. Gazing into my backyard reminded me that I don’t fully appreciate the glow of the sun until I experience time without it. But maybe I could find something good in the bleak if I tried. I noticed that the banana tree had defied the cold so far.
But then I saw it.
In the greater darkness near the ground, my eyes caught a glimpse of one tiny bright red knock-out rose (bottom center-right).
I prefer the sun, but if it doesn’t make it through the clouds, maybe one small dot of beauty can inspire me to move forward. I should attempt a better way to think today and not just talk happily. Could this be a directive from the Master? You decide.
I’m not much for New Year's resolutions. But I’ve learned the value of goals and plans. Writing them down WILL produce excellent results. I’ve too much proof to doubt it. And to begin any year this way is wiser than to give no thought.
First on the agenda is to remember who I am and what I'm about, because keeping the main thing the main thing is the main thing!
When The Adversary tempted Jesus, he first attacked his identity. “If you are the Son of God . . .” Of course, Jesus knew exactly who he was/is and answered from the scriptures. Our present society struggles with identity. It reminds me that I must make certain my identity hides with and in God. I suppose I could say that I decided to identify with the full spectrum of the 16 “colors of love” found in I Corinthians 13:4-8a.
For me, this is surely a stretch goal.
But I figure even if I muster only one of the traits of Love, for instance, “kindness,” I might, like the knock-out rose in my photo, allow God to bless others by allowing his life-giving light to shine out of me.
As I begin this awkward journey, I share a poem I stumbled upon in hopes it will inspire us this new year to follow the full spectrum of Love Is found only in the Son.
May the Lord richly bless you in this coming year!
From: God Knows Minnie Louise Haskins (1875-1957)
God knows. His will Is best. The stretch of years Which wind ahead, so dim To our imperfect vision, Are clear to God. Our fears Are premature; In Him, All time hath full provision.
©️ Copyright 2022 Gary Landerfelt. MyPericope.com
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