Traveler

And through the daffodil-sprinkled field did the man slowly trudge. Onward. Forward. His left foot matched what his right foot offered. His calves throbbed, but what was that? Progress towards the goal. At least the the grass was soft and the sky was blue. There could have been rain. Or worse, darkness. The days of sunlight seemed fewer and fewer in these latter times. But for now, the sun shone bright and breeze sang sweet. It was a good day for walking. And he lifted up his head.

Before him, the field stretched on, but not quite as far as it did before. It could be said that the field stretched smaller and colored brighter. Of course, the field did not change. But the man’s blue eyes perhaps saw with more clarity than before. He was older now, after all.

Past the field and beyond the horizon reached mountains. Not that the man could actually see them, but they were there. They were there. The map was very precise about the mountains. And quite ebullient on what they contained. Mountains were what he walked toward. Yet they were not what he longed for. And though his feet marched on diligently, his heart offered faint betrayal. He sighed. And slowly, oh so slowly, he stopped his walk.

He squinted. No mountains. But maybe, just maybe that smudge against the merry blue of the sky…no, no mountains. Slowly, oh so slowly, he started walking once more.

And as he walked and thought and prayed, he felt the sun warmth slowly fade. Sundown was upon the land. Although he did not like the dark, at least this was a natural dark. A night with stars and moon to dazzle was not so bad. And he slowly adjusted his gait into the saunter of dusk’s music. It was time to stop, he knew. Walking in the dark only led to trouble, yes.

And so he stopped and set down his pack upon the grass. No stream this night to rest by. No stone to lay his head. The grass was soft though. It would do. And sitting down upon the meadow, he lay back to count the stars. He thought he heard the faint sound of music on the evening wind. Could the star song reach so far? All things were possible. Maybe the ones from beyond the mountains sang his name. His name was known, after all.

Songs of hope and light of stars. Drifting into sleep would be easy tonight. He would reach the mountains someday. But now, he dreamed.

Royal blue

Well, at work early on a Thursday morning – I’m the first one in, and so before work begins, enjoying a bit of coffee and warming up after being out in the snowy cold!

And as I drove in this morning, rolling behind the cautiously glowing red lights of the cars before me that beckoned me on in a slow dance with the icy roads, I looked up and saw the piercing sickle of the moon shine bright against the inky blue sky and above the silent witness stood the proud morning star, a jewel in the heavens and knowing well that it stood alone of all the stars in majesty this day. And as the sky slowly began to bleed light, the clouds shot through with glory, I sighed with pleasure at the beauty of the skies, the creation of the Almighty that is but a pale reflection of the magnificence I will one day witness in His presence. All glory to the Lord of hosts. All glory to the Lamb that was slain! All glory to our God!!

I just had one of the most glorious camping weekends ever and now I am about to pass out from an overdose of sun and hiking and awesomeness and I desperately need a hot shower and a delicious dinner and a nap but I fear if I lie down I will not wake up until the morning and I still need to clean out my pack and so I suppose I will glory in some hot water and then put on a movie to keep me awake while I unpack and make dinner and oh I am so tired but it is the kind of tired where your bones are so stiff and your head is in a daze of weariness but it is all worth it and this is the worst run-on sentence of all time. I should probably not post this and reveal my exhaustion, but why not? Alex and Will and I gloried in the beauty of the LORD at Enchanted Rock and though we’re now back in Houston, those memories are with me still. Seeing the stars blaze bright against the black velvet of the night sky while lying atop the peak…well, I can’t describe it. Sorry, you’ll just have to experience it yourself! God is good, y’all!!

It is the most beautiful evening out right now!! Dusk is upon us and night is coming, but as the last light fades from the sky, a thunderstorm approaches. The air tingles with cool scent of rain as the clouds pass swiftly overhead. The thunder rolls ominously as the sky flashes with lightning. An eerie green tinges the sky and the trees tremble in the passing of the wind heralding the coming of the storm. Looking up to the kaleidoscope of color in the sky and feeling the first drops of rain on my face, I exult in the Creator of heaven and earth! Ah Lord God, thou hast created the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thine outstretched arm!! The beauty of the storm is almost overwhelming as I open my eyes to behold the glorious sky and see the light crash from one end of the sky to the other in a panorama of power! Oh what beauty! Oh what power! Oh what glory! Open your eyes!

Just got back from the gym and oh boy is it gorgeous outside!!! As I started driving home today, the sky was amazingly blue, unsmudged by smoke or clouds, and then the wind started picking up and I kept driving home and saw the western clouds begin to roll in, obscuring the setting sun but still the golden rays poured through the gaps in the heavens to shine down in liquid columns of light upon the earth below and then as I walked upon the sidewalk I felt the arctic air playfully tickle my skin and then the wind gusted and then the wind roared in the skies above as the palm trees danced the Charleston to the song of the dusk and then I tilted my head to the darkening sky and felt the first droplets of the spring rain touch my forehead and I spread my arms wide and welcomed the embrace of the wind and the last light of the day kissed my brow and I rejoiced. It is glorious!!