Elder Wisdom by Cally
I often find myself lost in the clouds, figuratively speaking. I find myself lost in the beauty of the clouds. Last week, while driving home from work, I found myself staring at the blend of dark and light clouds slowly making their way across Midlothian and wondering if they were from the remnants of Hurricane Nicholas. Wondering if they had been part of the storm that had created such chaos and damage a few hundred miles away on the coast and amazed at how beautiful they were now that they were overhead. In July, I gazed in wonder at the beautiful clouds mixed with Sahara dust that had drifted thousands of miles across the ocean and were now above my backyard. I stopped and took pictures so I could always remember the brilliant display of those clouds, their colors, and their dust. I will probably never be anywhere near the Sahara Desert in person, but tiny parts of it were there in Mansfield in my presence. What a journey those tiny specks endured. In June, I took in the magnificence of the clouds while sitting on the beach in Florida. Their beauty only further enhanced by the soothing, calming sounds of the waves crashing along the shoreline. It was intoxicating. It was relaxing. It was truly the best of God’s creation and exactly what I needed mentally, physically, and spiritually at that time.
The beauty of nature around us is, in my opinion, one of the simplest reminders of God’s love for us. In our own eyes we see his creation in abundance. As Psalms 118:23 reminds us, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” In Psalms 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
I love to take pictures of clouds whenever I can to remind me of that brief moment in time when I was struck by their beauty. And in those moments when I am stressed or upset or just need reminding of God’s love for me, I look back at those pictures. In an instant, a calmness washes over me. God’s presence is all around me. That even in my most trying times, his love never fails. His love will help me through.
As we approach the upcoming holiday season, I pray that you take a moment in whatever brings you peace and remember, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17) God’s love will see you through.
