Favor, Provision, and Place

There is a reoccurring theme in stories of hardship and distress. Just when things seem to be the worst and there is no escape for the one oppressed, the theme of favor, provision and place appear. I see it over and over again. It's most evident in the story of Joseph, but also throughout the story of a young exiled Jewish girl named Esther who finds favor from her captive Persian king, bountiful provisions, and ultimately the place of being Queen and saving her people from a genocide. I don't understand that,it seems to make no sense. It's like the pine tree that roots and grows up tall from just a narrow crack in a rock. Often I find myself wanting to be in the best situations, the easiest spots, trying to avoid the hardships and risks in life. If I'm in a difficult time, I usually am looking for a quick way out. Sometimes, there is escape, most times not. Maybe, just maybe, I am in that circumstance for something greater. Perhaps I will find favor; provision often is not external material goods, but rather the internal strength, endurance, and patience that is developed in my soul. Ultimately, a place is given, sometimes very lowly for a extremely long time, and sometimes a higher place with full honor and respect that's due. But for now, I take peace in the providence of God that the theme of favor, provision, and place is being written throughout my book of life . . .

Comments

Hummingbird Lessons

My eye caught a small round mound stuck upon a branch. Looking closer, I found indeed it was the start of a hummingbird nest. And yes, I now had the mother hummingbird buzzing around my head, reminding me that I was in her space. I have been able to witness at least 3 other hummingbird families come to life, and I was always mesmerized by these "tiny vulnerabilities" becoming resilient birds in only a matter of five to six weeks. The nest was right out my patio door, and I had the best view to watch them daily. I was smiling. I had a hunch that babies would be coming soon, because our hummingbird feeder had been especially sucked dry only a few weeks earlier. One day I found at least 4 hummingbirds at one time feeding, which is highly unusual because most times they come one at a time and don't seem to want to share the space. If they would share, it was two only at a the bar and of course on opposite sides. I was filling that feeder at le...

Awe

The thunder resounded with a loud clap! Certainly, it came as an afternoon surprise. The expected rain seemed less than what was forecasted, but with the thunder came a bucket of heavy raindrops splashing against my kitchen window. I wanted to take it all in, the fresh aroma of falling rain and the beauty of water drops hitting the leaves of my nasturtium and petunia hanging baskets. Unfortunately, the rain cloud quickly fled, running away into the eastern sky. But then the sun made its way onto the scene, and I was drawn to a thick band of rainbow colors shining up at me. The western sky was magnificently orange, completely bound up tight with that solo color scheme. I went outside to catch it all before it would disappear. Creation again was causing me to pause in awe and wonder. . . Awe is that reverential wonder, that even includes fear and respect. It is only a 3 letter word, but it takes bigger and grander words to define it....

Complicated Relationship Living

Today is Mom's birthday. If she were here, we would be celebrating her 109th day of life. I can't believe that it has already been 20 years since she said goodbye to earthly living. I was much too young back then, at the age of 45, to lose my Mom. You always long for at least one more conversation to ask the questions you didn't get a chance to do. You often wished you would have had more talks, especially as you find yourself on a different side of life, other wise known as the senior years. As parents we always desire to keep our family ties together and close, but it doesn't always work out that way. When our parents were still living, and as they grew more elderly, they of course were the bond that brought my brothers and myself together. As adult children, we each had a unique relationship to them, but I am realizing now, that we didn't necessarily have a tie with one another. We were children of the nuclear family, ...

Mary's Heartbeats

Search This Blog