Change of mind, change of heart — the possibility of such must never forsake us. The eternal aspect of our nature allows it; there we fear not dying, for death is a thing past. The freshness of new possibilities invigorates our new and resurrected day. Can we discern the progression of being set-apart unto God, closer and closer we go, the depths of life shake us, but outcomes never disappoint us.
James Whitcomb Riley writes “The Shower.”
- The landscape, like the awed face of a Child,
- Grew curiously blurred, a hush of death.
- Fell on the fields, and in the darkened wild,
- The zephyr held it’s breath.
- No wavering glamour-work of light and shade,
- Dappled the shimmering surface of the Brook:
- The frightened ripples in their ambuscade
- of willows thrilled and shook.
- The sullen day grew darker, and anon
- dim flashes of pent anger lit the sky:
- with rumbling wheels of wrath came rolling on
- the storms artillery.
- The Cloud above put on its blackest frown,
- and then, as with a vengeful cry of pain,
- The lightning snatched it and flung it down
- In raveled shreds of rain.
- While I, transfigured by some wondrous art,
- bowed with the thirsty lilies to the sod,
- my empty soul brimmed over, and my heart
- drenched with the love of God.
“a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true.” is a “paradox.” And so, the life moving closer to God.
“Deep calls unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
Yet,
the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” Psalm 42:7-8
Delitzch remarks,”when this by day has accomplished its work of deliverance, there follows upon the day of deliverance a night of thanksgiving, the joyous excitement, the strong feeling of gratitude, will not suffer him to sleep.”
So, The first Thanksgiving, “…seeking a new home where they could freely practice their faith and other individuals lured by the promise of prosperity and land ownership in the New World. After a treacherous and uncomfortable crossing that lasted 66 days, they dropped anchor near the tip of Cape Cod, far north of their intended destination at the mouth of the Hudson River.” “…Throughout that first brutal winter, most of the colonists remained on board the ship, where they suffered from exposure, scurvy and outbreaks of contagious disease. Only half of the Mayflower’s original passengers and crew lived to see their first New England spring. In March, the remaining settlers moved ashore, where they received an astonishing visit from an Abenaki Indian who greeted them in English. ”
Soon after was the first Thanksgiving meal. history.com
The contrariness of lives seeking a new beginning, new freedom to practice their faith, produced hearts of hope and Thanksgiving, in spite of the brutal nature of the endeavor.
Another by Riley helps, “A Life Lesson.”
- There! little girl; don’t cry!
- They have broken your doll, I know;
- And your tea set too,
- And your playhouse too,
- And things of the long-ago.
- But, childish troubles will soon pass by,-
- There! little girl; don’t cry!
- There! little girl; don’t cry!
- They have broken your slate, I know;
- And the glad wild-ways
- Of your school girl days,
- Are things of the long-ago;
- But life and love will soon come by,-
- There! little girl; don’t cry!
- There! little girl; don’t cry!
- They have broken your heart, I know;
- And the rainbow gleams
- Of your youthful dreams
- Are things of the long-ago;
- But heaven holds all for which you sigh–
- There! little girl; don’t cry!
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. ”
1 Corinthians 13:11-13
Friends,
In Revelation 22:12 Jesus speaks deeply, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
love ya
