In Silent Awe

I remember those beautiful end-of-summer days as a child at my grandparent’s farmhouse.  I can still hear sweet Grandma calling: “Come sit on the porch and watch the sunset with me!”

I’d scurry out to the wide porch gracing the front of the old home that I loved so dearly. The porch was draped in the green of lush summer vines and I'd find Grandma sitting cozily in a white wooden rocking chair. Climbing into the matching chair next to her, my young legs were too short to touch the floor but even so we would sit and rock ever so slowly, ever so quietly, ever so aware of being together and we would watch.  She’d place her 80 year old hand on my youthful one resting on the arm of the white rocker and we would just watch the miracle of “God signing his name to the end of the day” as she would call the sunset.

With his colorful pen of gold and crimson and saffron and honey we would observe with amazement how brilliantly his signature would appear on his masterpiece, another perfect day.

It always felt like an important time. Those moments shared with Grandma. A Grandma with her memories and a child with her dreams but not now, this was a grateful and non-rushed time. No words, no music, no hustling or bustling.  Just a time of awe.  Simply enjoying the moment.

It was magical and like they say…it’s hard to feel down when you’re looking up.

I’ve strolled through the great museums of the world, lost in the grandeur of masterpieces brilliantly created by artists whose only goal was an attempt to emulate in paint or marble or clay the beauty and power of God’s masterpieces. Be it his world or his children.

The Bible begins with the words…”In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” And it seems to me that he "goes about" each and every day since then attending to it. Every day is unique, every day is important; every day ends with his signature.

Many years have passed since sitting on that front porch with Grandma; the dreams of my youth are my memories now. I feel as if Grandma and Dale are on the other side of the sunset, along with Mother and Dad and Grandpa and all of those others that I loved so dearly in this life.  I’m comforted to know that they will be waiting for me there someday.

It pains me to be without them though. 

I’m left with the pain of missing them as well as the physical pains of mortal life at this age but it occurs to me that my pain, whether emotionally, physically or spiritually turns to prayer.  And prayer turns to hope and hope turns to strength and strength turns to courage and courage turns to peace. A peace like I feel when I watch God sign his name at the end of the day, or…I look out the window now as I type this and it’s snowing.  Quietly, softly, peacefully snowing, pure white prisms, none alike, each a mini masterpiece. And I am in awe.

It's only two days until Christmas and I think again of the Christmas carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem” with my favorite line…”How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given.”  This miracle of peace made possible by the Savior’s birth.

What a gift of peace is waiting for us when we stop in awesome wonder for just a moment or two to observe one of God’s masterpieces. Especially at this joyously busy time of the year.

My most loving wishes for a happy and peaceful and.....