Fog and Sunshine

 Here we are, friends! We've made it into 2021, and 2020 is now truly a year that is in hindsight.  How thankful I am for the many mercies and love of the Lord on our family throughout the past year, as He always has.  And whatever this year holds before us, I look into this year through a "glass darkly" yet with complete faith and trust that the Lord's provision will be sufficient, no matter what our earthly circumstances or political stage looks like.

When I walk each morning, it gives me a chance to spend time in the Lord's creation, and to bask in the beauty of His world.  There is something so comforting about looking upward to the skies, and to the horizon beyond me, and to the world in front of me, and to realize that our Lord does ALL THINGS WELL.  It is in those times of walking with Him, praying, and spending time in the Word in the morning before I leave, that I find the strength, peace, and joy to carry on with each day He has given me breath to enjoy. 

As so often is the case, here in north Idaho, January can be a very foggy, gray month.  The fog hangs low and thick, and the horizon often may not stretch much farther than the breath you breathe.  And it can seem in those gray, foggy days that the skies, mountains, and familiar horizons have forever disappeared into the mists that surround your present being.  Yet, in our heart's mind, we know those familiar landmarks are there, even when they cannot be seen. Soon though, in its own time, the sun will break through the clouds, and shine its light onto the world, illuminating clearly that which could not be seen just moments (or days) before.  

The reality is that the sun is always shining, 

up above the clouds, 

and it is just the clouds obstructing the sun's rays 

that prevent the light from shining.  

The mountains have not moved, the horizon has not changed, nor has the forest disappeared from sight.  It just takes the sunshine to bring back into focus what we knew was there all along. 

Just as it is at night too... many times in the darkness of the hour, it is hard to believe the reality of what we know to be true.  Sometimes the darkness can cause us to doubt what we know.  Yet... without fail, the dawning of the day always comes, and sunlight floods into the darkness, and truth is made known. 

January Fog

I think so often how this relates to our spiritual walk with the Lord. We may feel that we are in a deep foggy state, where landmarks that we are accustomed to are out of sight and we may struggle to remember and believe that they are there.  

But even in the dark, foggy moments, sweet delights of beauty await on closer inspection. We can choose to look for beauty, even in the difficult moments... for they are there! 

And when the fog lifts, and the sunshine begins to spread its warm glow on the world, there is a beauty manifested in its wake that reassures the soul that all is well. 

And so dear friends... when the way you walk is dark, or shrouded in fog, take heart, because the sunshine will soon come... and it will be a beautiful sight to see! 

We've had a very mild January this year, but the little snow we have gotten has been beautiful! 

I just love the world as the snow gently falls, the quiet beauty of the snow
upon the landscape fills the air with a solemn stillness. 

As we are well on our way into the new year of 2021, I look forward to the road ahead, somewhat uncertain, perhaps filled with a storm cloud or two... but with the Lord's constant companionship, 
I know whatever roads ahead we face, our Lord is with us. 

I want to leave you with this precious passage of scripture that remains so true today. 

 

I Corinthians 13

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, 

and have not charity, 

I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, 

and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; 

and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, 

and have not charity, I am nothing. 

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, 

and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, 

it profiteth me nothing. 

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; 

charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

Doth not behave itself unseemly, 

seeketh not her own, 

is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, 

hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, 

they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; 

whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect is come, 

then that which is in part shall be done away.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, 

I understood as a child, I thought as a child: 

but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; 

but then face to face: 

now I know in part; 

but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; 

but the greatest of these is charity.