Zephyr at Twilight

The Obscurity of God's Will

2010-10-01T14:53:00.000-07:00

It has been so long since I have written, perhaps I have forgotten how. Perhaps the lapse is an indication that something else has grasped my mind and attention and writing my blog has taken second place to it. It is interesting that when I completed the series on storms, and the skies cleared, and the rains subsided, with the dawning of the sun, came that something that grasped my attention from writing.

God's will. I thought I had it in the bag; understood the very factions of this concept. I searched it, thought I found it, followed it earnestly, held tight to it and would not let it go. And now 30 years later, I haven't the foggiest what it means. Can I say this new something is God's will? I don't know. For who can know the infinite mind of God? How does one take the step of faith that is in complete murky darkness? How can one know the future? Haw can one know if a venture will succeed or fail? How can one risk hundreds of thousands of dollars when success means a viable livelihood and where failure means utter ruin?

People call me a risk taker. Yet, I have been cautious in all my endeavors. I have taken care to be sure I follow the correct path to get me where I have thought God's will stood. Yet, to take a family to a nation where the people were not only cannibals but headhunters too would seem a bit risky. To climb aboard some of the means of transportation we have clung to, would seem heady; like the barge in Africa tied to small trees by a thin cord, the swinging bridge, laying down two 8 inch planks where the bridge should have been, and driving a truck across it, the very small planes we boarded, ski lifts high in the Alps, leaking dugout canoes where we had to bail the whole trip, two babies and a man on one bicycle and mom and another baby on another, two market baskets held on either side of the motorcycle for balance as we jumped washed out roads, ran over pigs and threw roosting chickens off our handlebars. Scares me just to write it.

So do I make the next venture that is foremost in my thoughts these days?

The Storm Ceases

2010-05-11T18:01:00.000-07:00

The truth is God has already determined how long your trials will last. Your painful circumstance will not last one moment longer than God knows is necessary to acheive His purpose in your life. Trials are like a tunnel, not like a cave: you will come through it. And one day all pain, suffering and tears will be removed forever.

The storm subsides ... The sun shines again!

God's Rainbow of Promise

He is the sunshine after the Shower!

Hi is the calm after the Storm!

He is the stillness in the Tornado!

He is the Frozen Shower of Blessing in Life's El Nino's!

He is the Eye in the Hurricane!

He is the Ray of Hope after the Squall

He is the Zephyr in the Gale!

Monsoons of Anguish

2010-04-27T08:33:00.001-07:00

Monsoons of Anguish

Monsoons. These are the big storms that last a while, maybe even permanently. When one of our families in Africa sold their daughter to a Muslim in marriage, that was a monsoon. When the husband beat her and she ran away - that was a monsoon. When he found her and cut her hand off for running away - that was a monsoon. When she ran away again because he cut her hand off -- that was a monsoon. When he cut her other hand off for running away again - that was a monsoon. When he told her if she ran away again, he would cut off her foot - that was a monsoon. When there was no civil government to appeal to for help and since she is his property, he can do what he wants to his property - that was a monsoon. Her situation would not change - she would live in it. How dreadfully sad to see her in the marketplace selling her tomatoes with only stubs. Beggars would steal her money and she would chase them down beating them with her stubs trying to get her money back. Yet, she loved the Lord and was faithful to Him.

Countless others we have worked with face their monsoons everyday. Going home for a break is supposed to be a joyous occasion to most students, but one faced a murder, and another was dropped off while her mother went off on her own vacation. It was three days before an uncle dropped by with some groceries. One lady's husband fell into sin and she contracted AIDS. One couple was told by their village that if they persisted in going to Bible School, the village would pray to their gods that their children would die. We buried two of those children that next year.

What are your monsoons? Monsoons unusually reveal themselves in losses; losing a loved one, a home, a ministry, a marriage, your child to sin or sickness, your health, your reputation, or your financial stability. How do you survive the monsoons in your life? How did others, like the Apostle Paul?

How could Paul:

Sing hymns from the belly of a dungeon?
Stay faithful while being stoned?
Keep confident while being shipwrecked?
Remain steadfast while being lied about?
Rejoice while being rejected by friends?
Continue when tired and hungry?

Paul was not living to please himself.

He had one burning passion.

That passion was to live for the glory of God and the Pleasure of God.

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

We function as our Creator designed us to live when we are

Living all of life

In the presence of God

Under the authority of God

And to the glory of God.

Squalls of Derision

2010-04-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

Squalls of Derision

A squall is defined as a sudden, violent wind accompanied by rain or snow. Derision is the use of ridicule of scorn to show contempt.

Joseph's trials seemed characteristic of abrupt storms caused by those who scorned him. His story is typified as one who's life events went from bad to worse.

Joseph's brothers were jealous
He is sold into slavery
Bought by Potiphar
Potipher's wife lied about him
Went to prison
Joseph interpreted dreams accurately
Man freed
Joseph asked him to remember him
Man forgot him
3 years passed with Joseph still in prison
King needed a dream interpreted
Joseph was remembered
Joseph interpreted the king's dream
His was freed from jail
Joseph became second in command
Forgave his brothers

God has determined how long the trial will last. My painful circumstance will not last one moment longer than God knows is necessary to achieve His purpose in and through my life. It is a lie to believe -- "My circumstance will never change --This will go on forever". Your difficulties are not like a cave you will wander and stumble around forever. They are a tunnel you will pass through and come out safely on the other side. One day, all pain, suffering and tears will be removed forever. Joseph came to this realization: "But as for you [his brothers], ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive." Genesis 50:20.

As suddenly as the squalls appear and empty their tears upon the sea, they are gone.

Hurricanes of Injustice

2010-04-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

Hurricanes of Injustice

Though we never personally went through a hurricane, one struck our home in the Caribbean while we were in the States. It picked up our heavy gas grill, flipped it over the railing on our veranda, and tossed it down the mountainside. A missions team was on campus at the time and diligently rescued the grill that had torn into many, many pieces and painstakingly put it back together so we could use it one more year. Hurricanes damage, destroy and defile. Powerful winds of injustice swirl our lives into a frenzy of unanswered questions. Innocence is always baffled by injustice for it has only known integrity and cannot fathom anyone serving anything less than truth. Injustice tears one into many, many pieces.

To you injustice may involve your children's struggle with what is fair, unfair treatment on the job, a court decision against what you hoped for, that bill you had to pay for which you never received services or merchandise, or the politics that cost you that job and the evil men who welded that political power.

On a national level, injustice may involve government corruption, widespread drug marketing, high rate of murder, economic crisis, or exploitation of young girls, all of which we have experienced firsthand in our travels.

When we are mistreated,when we look for integrity and are granted injustice, when we expect exoneration and are given censorship, when we look to live in honor and others seek to shame us . . . then we must call on the Lord Who not only knows the truth, but is, in very essence, Truth Himself.

This storm dovetails perfectly with the storm we will talk about tomorrow. So, until tomorrow, Goodnight.

El Nino of Disaster

2010-04-20T19:09:00.000-07:00

El Nino of Disaster

El Nino hit at the end of the 90's and was the cause of vicious ice storms across America and mudslides that pushed houses off mountains. I know because we moved from Pennsylvania to San Francisco between Christmas and New Year's during one of El Nino's most passionate onslaughts on America. We traveled, Tim driving a 24-ft U-haul truck with me following in a 250 Ford Lariat puling a 12-ft trailer with 2 children and a German Shepherd. The five-day trip took us 10 days of white knuckle, hold-your-breath, scream-praying, where did my husband go?, Why do the kids want to ride with Tim?, and Why won't this CB radio work? driving. The most terrifying moments of the trip occurred when we hit a 6 mile ice patch coming down from Flagstaff. I lost control and zigzagged down the wide, steep road. We had lost radio contact. About half-way down, we spotted a 24-foot U-haul on its side. Suddenly the radio worked again and I heard Tim's voice say, "That U-haul on its side is not us!" I shouted, "I've lost control and am all over the road." He informed me if we made it down the hill, we should take the first exit to a rest area. We continued sliding and I tried to regain control of the vehicle. We finally hit some dry ground and regained control. I pulled into the rest area and sobbed for 15 minutes.

~~

What are the El Nino's of your life? The bigger issues: the broken friendship, the failed business, the accident that takes life or health, serious illness, flunking out of school or having to move away from friends and family. These would threaten to undo us, seek destruction or a fall. But even the most terrifying circumstances are laced with Grace. Grace we often cannot see for the ferocity of the storm. Icy blasts grip our hearts in fear, rendering us unmovable, frozen in terror, petrified.

~~

God's Frozen Showers of Blessing

Incredible Beauty

Intricate Design

The Zephyr comes like a glory. The thaw occurs. The ice melts. And God refines us.

Where is the Capitol?

2010-04-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

America, Land of opportunity! Where else but in America do we have such opportunity for an excellent education? The amazing intelligence of Americans was blatantly brought to light on Saturday, when my family decided to take a day trip to Washington, DC.

We arrived in Washington to find there are many helpful people who are willing to give directions. I am happy to be married to a man not afraid to ask. Much to our joy after several inquiries and several turns around many blocks, we were able to find parking. An even greater benefit was due to the Cherry Blossom Parade, we were able to park at event parking prices.

We parked in a large parking lot, affixed our parking stub in the appropriate place, donned our hats, sunglasses, sack lunches, cameras and we were off ... but in which direction? We were new to the city. How were we supposed to know where the capitol building was? Well, the three parking attendants live here; surely they would know. So we asked, "Which direction do we go to find the Capitol building?"

"I don't know" said the three attendants, who should know where it was.

Next, we passed a business man dressed to the hilt in suit and carrying an expensive attache case.

"Could you please direct us to the Capitol Building?" we inquired.

"I don't know where it is," he also responded.

A truck driver, a couple locking their car and a group of people who looked like they were waiting for a parade were too far away to ask.

Then we saw a woman with two small children. "I'm asking her. She looks like she knows where she is going." I ran across the parking lot and flagged her down. "Do you know where the Capitol building is?" I asked her in my perfect Yankee accent. "Oui." she said. You just go down that road for about 5 block and you will see the Capitol on your left." Her French accent was unmistakable. I spoke to her in French, asking her where she was from and telling her that I had lived in Toulouse, France for a year. She repeated her directions to the Capitol in French and said that she and her family lived just outside of Paris. I thanked her, again in French and we headed for the Capitol.

Isn't it interesting that so many Americans could not find their way around their own country, and the only person who could correctly direct us to our nation's capitol, was from France! In defence of France at a time when that nation is rather unpopular ... Viva la France!!!

Tornados of Confusion

2010-04-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

Tornados of Confusion

Tornados of confusion try our very essence and question our very existence. When life doesn't make sense, confusion reigns. When too much is happening too fast and there is no oportunity to regroup, confusion rules. David expressed his feelings this way, "Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then I would fly away, and be at rest...I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest." Psalm 55:6,8.

Most people, except crazy scientists, run away from a tornado. Sometimes we need to step back and find reason in the midst of the confusion. What type of question brings clarity out of confusion? It would be the question, "Why?" This question provides the basis of wisdom, which is seeing life's situations from God's point of view.

I don't know if you were taught this, but I was taught that you may ask God any question - What? Where? When? How? May? Can? but never Why? Well, perhaps I am a rebel, but the first thing I wanted to know was, Why can't I ask God Why? Then I came to understand that there are two ways to ask God why. One is with fist raised in anger against God. The other is with hands open in earnest supplication. One challenges God. The other seeks God's sovereign answer to His will. One is filled with bitterness. The other has already decided to yield to whatever God's will desires. One is hopeless. The other filled with hope.

So while we are running from the tornados of confusion, where do we run? The same chapter verse 22, "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." So, I guess this means:

Throw down -- "Cast thy burden upon the LORD."

Hold On -- "He shall sustain thee"
Hold Out -- "He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

Run To -- "But I will trust in Thee." vs. 23.

We run to God for safety and deliverance.

Thank you Jennie ... Goodnight

Thunderstorms of Testing

2010-04-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

Thunderstorms of Testing

The thunderstorms of testing are irritants that test your patience. These are greater than an annoyance but not crushing as anguish. Your home is flooded. You are failing in school. You are robbed. There is tension between you and a co-worker. Song of Solomon speaks of the little foxes. Solomon and his bride are walking through the vineyards. She notices a couple of young foxes running through the vineyards, wrestling and tumbling with each other. She laughs, "Aren't they adorable, Solomon!" He wraps an arm around her, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." (Song of Solomon 2:15). Often the little things can become huge conflicts. Beware the little foxes. Goodnight.

Showers of Disappointment

2010-04-07T18:54:00.000-07:00

Today and for the next several evenings, I thought I would talk to you about different types of storms and apply them to the storms in your life. In every storm, the Zephyr holds us steady, provides comfort, encourages, and softens the blow of the wildest gale. Tonight, let us consider the:

Showers of Disappointment

These are the little things that crop up in our lives. They are the rain that spoils the picnic, the storm that cancels the game, the lightning that ends the swim and the thunder that stops the parade. When everyone runs inside because graduation is rained out and only 1/3 of your family can attend. When you were counting on that outdoor garden wedding and the clouds burst all over your beautiful day. This is the stuff disappointments are made of. We will all endure them as they are a part of life.

At these times we must acknowledge them, accept them, and eventually anticipate them to find the greater good. Often, the end result is finer than any prospect we could have anticipated.

The showers of disappointment can transform into showers of blessing.

Thanks to Thomas Kincade for the beautiful painting.

More Cheese Please

2010-03-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

As we have discovered from our 'Nomadic Existence", we will move again - and again.

Change Happens -- They keep moving the cheese!
By now, it seems like a Jehovah joke, a Providential prank, a Celestial chuckle, but it is my reality. I believe I have acquired an allergy to cardboard and I have nightmares of numbered cartons filled with my "stuff" floating over a precipice into the unknown. I have pared down enough households to have qualified for a healthy retirement fund, had I not had to buy another household in another location. Most the time as we moved, I was caught surprised. I was still holding onto MY cheese. I guess I forgot Whose cheese it was. And it really wasn't a joke or an unkindness; it was a move, it was a plan designed by One greater than I.

Anticipate Change -- Get ready for the cheese to move!
The problem was I was never ready. Even the times I saw the "handwriting on the wall", I just didn't get it. I thought I could "fix it", overcome it, rescue it, manage it, but when it came down to it, all I could do was accept it and deal with it. We all learned in our college classes that we were to work ourselves out of a job, that we were expendable for God, but I thought we would continue with the same group on the same continent in the same country. Now, 4 continents, 5 countries and 3 States later, I realize I am expendable. My life is not my own for I have been bought with a price. God does not need me, He wants me and where really doesn't matter.

Monitor Change -- Smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old!
Funny, today when I was cleaning, I found a piece of Pepperjack cheese in the back of the fridge. It was green and slimy and putrid-smelling. How long it had been there, I'll never know. I only lived in my house 6 days a month. It struck me as a vivid visual aid, how, like the mouse, I was clinging to my cheese, even though it was old. I pictured my arms around that piece of cheese I threw away today. How utterly disgusting! Had I seen the cheese of my life for what it was, perhaps I could have adapted better.

Adapt to Change Quickly -- The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy the new cheese!
It did not take me long to part with that moldy cheese in my fridge. I could not get it out of my house fast enough. Clinging to old cheese keeps me looking back to the past rather than to the future. New plans cannot be settled, new adventures cannot begin and new friends cannot be made.

Change -- Move with the cheese!
Some of the greatest miracles we have been blessed to enjoy could never have occurred if we had not come to the place of crisis in our lives. Example: A family with 3 small children ran out of food. They are in Bible school attending full-time classes, working full time, and driving a long distance. Throughout the day they pray, anticipating God will answer. They don't say a word or "drop hints" to anyone. This is a God-thing. And they are waiting for God's answer. At lunch, they serve the several hundred students, many complaining about the food they're served, while the family waits for a possible supper. The cafeteria man throws pans of food in the trash that could have fed the family. The last class ends and it is time to pick up the children and drive to a cheeseless home. As they pull out, a prof runs after the car and stops them. "I shot a deer and I have more venison than will fit in my freezer. Can you use some?" God has answered. I feel sorry for the hundreds of Christians who have never been in a place of such need that only God can rescue. It takes discomfort to be in that place. There can be fear in that place. But without coming to that place, you can never see the miracle occur! Thank God for the prof who also had a heart ready to hear God and help meet that need.

Enjoy Change -- savor the adventure and enjoy the taste of new cheese!
Some of the world's most wonderful cheeses, we enjoyed in France during our year there. Caprice des Dieux (Cream of the god's) was our favorite. (You can find it in the cheese department at Wegman's for about $10 for 12 oz.) Brie, Edam Holladaise Tendre, Muenster were a delight from the basic American and Cheddar we were accustomed to. I remember the French trying to encourage me to eat the white part of the Brie. I was convinced it was mold and would take the cheese out of the middle. Woe be to the person who actually cuts off the point from a wedge of brie. Taking the cheese from the middle was a lesser, though still a serious crime in French ettiquette. After several weeks of eating the white part, I returned to my friend and told her how successful I had been.

"I am eating the white part of the brie, but I am having some difficulty with the orange part of the Muenster." I stated.

"Oh no!" she responded, alarmed. "The orange part is plastic!"

Be sure the cheese you are enjoying is actually cheese!

Be Ready to Change Quickly and Enjoy it Again and Again -- They keep moving the cheese!
Often the changes were so abrupt, I often did not know which State to be content in. That I must be ready to change quickly and enjoy it is true as I am currently on my 50th move. This time I know it will be temporary. My cheese will move again.

Move With the Cheese and Enjoy it!
My short term prospects fill me with anticipation. My children, Grandbabies, writing writing and more writing, time with Tim and even time to sleep for a change, and cooking things my family will enjoy for fun and not because it is my job!

Thank you Spencer Johnson for the insights you have shared in your book, "Who Moved My Cheese?" You have helped me to adjust to my personal changes.

"Who Moved My Cheese?"

2010-03-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

There is a great little book by Spencer Johnson called, "Who Moved My Cheese?" It is about little mice in a maze whose cheese in their corner is either old or eaten up. So the mice must make the decision to stay and wait for more cheese that probably won't arrive, or leave that place in search of more cheese. Unfortunately, the place the cheese vacated is their comfort zone - a hard place to leave.

Most of us have had the experience of having an opportunity dry up and needing to find a new place to work or live or serve. There are certain basic truths concerning the need to move and change your current status -- whatever that may be:

The more important your cheese is to you, the longer you will want to hold on to it, the harder it will be for you to let it go, and the more it hurts for you to separate yourself from your cheese.

Smell the cheese often so you will know when it is getting old.

The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese.

If you do not change, you may become extinct.

What would you do if you were not afraid?

When you move beyond your fear, you feel free.

Movement in a new direction helps you find new cheese.

It is safer to search in the maze than to remain in a cheeseless situation.

Following old tried and failed techniques do not work. Sometimes you need a new plan of action.

Imagining myself enjoying new cheese even before I find it, leads me to it.

When you see you can find and enjoy new cheese, you change course.

Noticing small changes early helps you adapt to the bigger changes that are to come.

Hope you find your cheese when the time comes. Goodnight!

The Zephyr Blasts

2010-03-26T16:03:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? We woke to snow, ice and freezing temperatures. That's what we get for coming to the "Icebox of Pennsylvania". Tim and I went for a walk today (see above). We expected daffodils, forsythia, and green grass, but were met with the blasts of winter.

What do you do when met with the unexpected?

In the latter years of the 17oo's, Robert Burns said "The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray". "Life is no straight and easy corridor along which we travel free and unhampered, but a maze of passages, through which we must seek our way, lost and confused, now and again checked in a blind alley." A. J. Cronin.

Nothing is ever as you expect it to be. The zephyr is blasted by the winter's storm. This does not mean the zephyr is gone. The storm is simply more noticable than the gentle breeze. Yet, the zephyr remains.

The best you can do is to accept the unexpected and look for the next direction.

2010-03-24T20:41:00.001-07:00

Hold me, God

2010-03-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who talks to God like no one else I know. Every time we talk, she usually follows up every topic with, "We need to pray about that." And the amazing thing is, she really prays about that.

She went through some pretty hefty trials a while ago and she spoke of how she pictured herself being held by God. Not just holding His hand, or being emotionally supported by Him, but really held. She would "climb on His lap" like a little child and feel His arms around her. Her difficulties would become manageable, her sorrows accepted, her failures acknowledged with lessons learned and her sins confessed and forsaken.

Sometimes when we hurt, we need to "climb into God's arms" and just let Him hold us. Decisions can wait, fears laid aside, worries dissipated and plans on hold as we "wait on God".

Her husband died and we recently passed the anniversary of his death. I had sent her a little handmade card with a poem I had written, based upon her analogy of God holding her.

Release of Death

No longer locked within a body

Full of frailties, grief and pain,

Now his body soars in Heaven

Free from every human stain.

Sin no longer makes its presence;

Temptation and testing forever past.

Now he stands perfect and holy

Before God's glorious throne at last.

Face to face at last with Jesus,

All God's glory in full view,

For'ere undimmed by sin's dark vision

For Christ has made all things new.

He'll not leave you comfortless.

In His arms, He holds you near.

Unceasing love right now surrounds you

To cast out every fleeting fear.

-Valerie L. Waite

May God "hold you" this evening. Goodnight.

Nomadic Journey

2010-03-22T16:44:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been decided. We are obviously called to a nomadic ministry. I am 52 years old and have moved 49 - soon to be 50 times - and we have lived in 3 of those places for 7 years! Last week, I told my girls, "I am selling all that I have and I am buying a turban and a camel."

"What are you going to name your camel?" they asked.

"Humphrey!" I responded.

A few weeks ago, my Pastor suggested there are some people God calls to short-term ministries. They begin strong, run well, and end abruptly. He has observed this pattern in our lives for many years.

He said, "Everywhere you go, you do the same thing - minister to others."

It seems that God has to intervene to move us because we love the people wherever we are and would not leave of our own accord.

Today, I walked away from 51+ girls that I have come to love. Unfortunately, I did not get the opportunity to adequately say Goodbye. As we returned final items, some of my girls walked by. I was just asking God to let me see who He wanted me tosee before we left. Two girls came running to my car just then and we embraced. How I will miss them!

One of the most difficult aspects of a short term adventure, is that you rarely get to hear the end of the story. Where will these girls go? Who will they become? What choices will they make? What victories will they win?

All I can say is, "Girls, I love you all - all 51 of you. I will deeply miss you. You are in my heart and I promise to pray for you. Be strong. Be wise. Be thankful. Be honest. Be always loving. Open your heart to reflect on God."

For the next blogs, I will seek to provide for you a "Zephyr at Twilight". Each evening, visit my blog and I will have a gentle word to encourage you and help you to relax. A zephyr is a gentle breeze. I know some of you are going through some fearsome gales in your lives and you need a gentle breeze to settle you when you feel overwhelmed. My goal is to prepare for you a Zephyr at Twilight. Goodnight.

Humphrey

Love for Literature

2009-09-17T20:21:00.000-07:00

One of my goals as a mother, teacher, counselor, missionary and women's speaker is not only to instill an understanding of how to read, but to develop a love for literature. My children fondly remember as we read great books of literature together each evening. Often, we would laugh, fear, cry, become excited, and sometimes even fall asleep during these stories. We travelled the world in our books as we travelled the world in reality. We read of the American prairie while in France, of Scotland while in Switzerland, of Mordor and Middle-Earth while in Africa, and Narnia while in Canada. Today, Heather has a library that boasts a thousand and a half volumes, Valinda is rarely seen without a book in her hand, and Tim has piles of magazines and books to fit his interests. Our children have far surpassed us in their love and understanding of literature and we have learned much from their insights.

Aspects of Glory

2009-09-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

My soul is blessed: "GLORY!"

One day we shall be with Him in GLORY.

The service I render unto God is for His GLORY.

The LORD, the Anointed One -- My GLORY.

The experience of the Exchanged Life is GLORY.

The temple was filled with the cloud of His Shekinah GLORY.

Today His GLORY fills my heart -- His Temple.

To find the ability to see through the rubble and see the GLORY;

Through hardship and struggles to see the culmination of God's will;

Is to see the greater day is ahead!

The Green Flash

2009-09-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

"Wake up everyone!"

Grunts and groans followed from our two room family tent that resembled a yellow submarine. "It's 4 am!"

"I know, but we have to hurry to see the green flash over the Atlantic Ocean."

I wish I could say this only happened on one occasion during one vacation, but I was on a quest to find the green flash I had read about years before. So, every year and on every day of every vacation, I dragged my family to the beach at sunrise in search of the green flash.

Now, the children are grown so on my birthday, they all flew to spend two weeks with us in St. Vincent. Together, we stood on the leward side of the island at sunset looking west over the Caribbean waters and saw the green flash.

Though it lasted only a few moments, the long-awaited sight was surprising, beautiful and intrinsically satisfying.

Okay! So I had it wrong; the wrong time of day, the wrong direction, the wrong sea from my standpoint, but I meant well. I wanted to see a rare spectacle of nature.

Next, I would like to see the fire rainbow! "Come on kids, we only have to find cirrus clouds at 20,000 ft, with just the right amount of ice crystals, and the sun shining through it at a 58 degree angle."