A flower in the desert, a breeze on a hot day, a rainbow in the midst of a rain and a moonbeam in the dark of the night. What do they all have in common? What do they all do for us? The answer is really quite simple. They offer us a heightened pleasure in the midst of a contrary influence. When we would be tempted to dread the dry, curse the hot, cower from the shower or fear to go out at night, these singular blessings stand out to give us hope.
Remember Aarons rod that budded? Do you remember the almond branch in the prophecy of the minor prophet who saw the bud in the midst of winter? Do you remember Jesus in the midst of a dark world? It is all the same thing! It is the love of God shining forth TO YOU. It is true that Jesus is the light but so is the rainbow. They are both SENT FROM GOD. And so it is in all creation. For every bleakness there is hidden within a blessedness. That is the way of God. He gives a fragrance that will draw you toward Him. He points a light to show the way. And He sends a soft wind to cause you to turn toward Him.
In the spirit we find that God is doing exactly the same thing. When it seems that the forces of darkness are in a prevailing way, that they are the bigger part of the picture of our day, God puts a thought into the midst of their thinking which invades our mind. God simply says: The bible. He pulls us toward the light of His Word. And when it seems that we have lost our way and ended up in the desert of our soul, He sends for a fragrance in the form of a saint who is full of Himself. In the time of heat, when the circumstances seem to be hot against us, He will blow a short breath of peace to cause us to consider what is important in life. When the distractions are falling all around us, He gives us a glimpse of His immense beauty. And we rest in the midst of the storm.
God is never very far from us, but we must choose to look for the small blessing hidden in the vastness set before us. We have been given eagles eyes which can focus quickly on the smallest thing. The choice is ours to decide what we will chose let into heart.
Original Copyright: © Anthony J. Massotti Th.M., Th.M. 8/15/1999