Standing at Bald River Falls, its roaring cascades misting my face, I simultaneously sensed my minuscule smallness and God’s magnificent greatness.
Then my gaze focused on the remains of two tree trunks mid-falls . . . it was as though they were trying to hold back the tumultuous flow . . . how so often like my prideful, minuscule resistance to do things my way in lieu of yielding to God’s magnificence and plans for my life.
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”(1 Peter 5)
. . . soooo . . .
“Give all your worries and care to God, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
Standing at Bald River Falls, the words of my old German grandmother echoed through the liquid thunder . . . “Freddy, you’re too soon old and too late smart” 😊
The photograph was taken the on a wilderness-wander the other day portraying the ambivalence of life’s journey . . . there will always be sunshine above, and tumultuous rapids below. The picture depicts sunshine’s Hope.
A recent totally unexpected, upsetting event threatened capsizing in discouragement’s rapids, but Grace kept me upright. A quote came to mind reminding me not allow yesterday’s failures to destroy today’s joys;
“To live above with the folks we love, that will be glory. To live below with the folks we know, that’s another story.”
Years ago, lamenting to a pastor friend how my life’s foremost, self-imposed failure had affected others and Christianity’s name, he compassionately, but candidly told me,
“It’s not about you Fred. You’re not that important. God and others will survive your failure”.
His words uncovered the root of all sins I’ve struggled with throughout my life . . . ‘I’m important’ self-pride.
Watching the rising sun evaporate clouds off the mountains this morning, a subtle, Divine duality of pride stuck me . . . in my own and the world’s perspective, I’m truly “not that important”. But I . . . the one who wandered away . . . God has undeservedly and sacrificially deemed “most important”, leaving the 99 to carry me back to the flock on His shoulders.
While we proudly take pride celebrating our country’s precious independence and freedom this 4th of July, may we ever remember it’s Him who has been carrying our nation on His shoulders, and endeavor to continue let Him do so in His way, not ours.
Abba's Art 