Through a glass dimly

My folks have a beautiful sunroom with a lovely potted palm in it. The palm stands in the corner against large plate glass windows looking out over a lush and thickly forested yard. It is clear what the palm is thinking as it waves it's fronds gently in the still indoor air.
"Hey guys! Can I come out and play?"
"Oh that's a good one," laughs the oak tree,"I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say your locomotive powers are somewhat compromised."
And the palm has no choice but to agree. No singing birds or chatty squirrels will alight upon it's branches. It will always stand sentinel looking out at the forest it can't join.

So I sit with it when I visit and together we watch the world outside the glass.
But I am luckier than the palm tree because my folks love to go out to eat so they take me out to lunch every day and sometimes dinner. When I visit, I shop and make home cooked meals for them if they let me. After nearly 80 years of cooking, my mom just is sick of it.
Even making a sandwich conjures memories of shopping, cooking, cleaning for 5 kids and exhausts her. So they happily explore every restaurant within an hour in all directions and single- handedly are trying to fuel an economic recovery in America.

Yesterday morning, the potted palm and I were discussing our roots when I heard my parents' television in the next room. I listened as the host described how to flambé and sauté and fricasee.
My parents who have not cooked a single meal in 15 years were watching a cooking show.
Now to be fair, I do believe mom reported making a hot dog last year and a peanut butter sandwich once but neither was flambed, or sauted or fricaseed.

The Palm and I exchanged glances.
"Are you planning a comeback?" I called out to mom, who used to be a good cook, though she never loved it.
Nope, no plans to start cooking again.
Just watching the world on the other side of the glass.

I am only looking at a reflection of what could be, what will be on the other side too. In a sense, we all are potted palms catching the scent of a world we long for but cannot quite touch , cannot quite reach.... Not yet.

1 Corinthians 13:12
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.


Nothing is impossible with God.
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