Monday, September 24, 2012

Sunsets, proclamations, and my attempt at art.

God woke me up this morning, quite decidedly. I fell asleep reading a textbook, and though I set an alarm, I didn't set the other three I always set on my phone. My real alarm is far too easy to silence, as a slight touch will shush its blaring beeps. 

And yet I was gently awoken by the Father a few minutes before 8 (about 30 minutes later than I planned). I got up without sleepy haze and got ready quite normally. I was able to fill my water bottle and grab breakfast/snacks to go. I found a parking spot not too far from the first Route 56 bus stop on the lot, and the bus pulled up just as I was walking there. I made it to class with about two minutes to spare. 

And I praised my Lord for caring for me in even the smallest, most unnecessary ways. 

A life with trust in the Creator is so, so much less chaotic. And though I'm definitely bad at this trust, He teaches me amidst my everyday chaos. And to top, He paints it with beauty. 

Per esempio, when I am in a hurry to make a meeting and get somewhere, and I run out of my condo with a full, buzzing mind of to-do's, and THIS is what greets me:

Or when I'm in a massive hurry to get from Rogers to Fayetteville on Thursdays to be a bit less late to chapter, and I glance to the right and encounter a brilliant sunset, just chilling there in sight of 540. 

It may have been only slightly hazardous to take this while driving...

We worry. We stress. We overanalyze. We pity party. We freak. 

Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all. - James 1:17

And through it all, our Lord who loves us through our insanity is solid, unchanging, and beautiful. So very breath-snatchingly beautiful. 

Admittedly, He calls me beautiful too. And further admittedly, I have a seriously difficult time swallowing that Truth. The human in me does not want to hear it. But I suppose if He cares enough to make a common stretch of sky into something so glorious, He has something in store for me. Something... 

Last week the lady who did my hair asked what I wanted to do for a career. When I said I don't have life plans, she commented on my collectedness. I told her "I figure God has pretty good plans. That or I'll just die." She found that particularly hilarious.

I'm humbled by the sky. I'm amazed at its vibrance at dusk or dawn and the array of colors, the grandeur of billowing columns of cloud, the brevity of its remarkable displays. Yes yes yes, I understand it's all science and physics and light refraction and the atmosphere and all that nonsense. I do go to college for the edjahmahkashun. But all the textbooks in the world couldn't inspire this praise within me. Those cold, hard facts don't fill me with joy. An argument in perfect Chicago style could not bolster me up to face the challenges of this world. 

paint + sharpie on canvas, September 2012

Yet again, I must end this blog with deep gratitude. I'm blessed beyond all comprehension; what more shall I say? 

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