All is Made New

While waiting for my daughter to return alive from whitewater rafting, I settled at a shady corner of the church portico garden and began to sketch the tree there on my iPod. I thought I only had a few moments, so did a quick sketch, but the moment stretched into an hour and slowly I added details that I hadn't noticed or had the time to add in at first. I was so busy drawing that I didn't have time for the usual images to congeal in my anxious brain when my dear one is off doing something dangerous. Instead of visions of bodies tossed like popcorn out of boats smashing against rocks in surging water, I was focusing on the sinuous lines tree limbs wander upon, and the similarities in the hues of brick and bark. I realized that scene I had passed a million times.... I had never really seen.

As I was walking beside Zach for the 679th time that day in the backyard, moving slowly so he would be bored enough to slow down and pee, I noticed ivy beginning to adorn the back fence.
When had that happened? Zach attacked every leaf, settled to chew every twig, rolled delightedly in the dew of every large sprig of grass. He noticed (and pounced upon) a wasp slowly dragging a June bug up a tree trunk. He took delight in every small wonder of the backyard which I had not been in for months...not since I had had to walk Zach.

Everyone needs contact with babies and puppies. Their astonishment with the world, with every blue sky morning, every bird chirping, and every leaf falling makes me pause and notice it all anew. I walk so unhearing in a cacophony of miracles, so blindly through a masterpiece of creation.

The good news is you too can enjoy this feast of joy. Go to Hollowcreekfarm.org to adopt a puppy or one of their wonderful other animals longing to show you the grandeur of God's grace and mercy, the wonder of His love expressed in so many unexpected places.

Psalm 103:
² Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

³ who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.