Returning home after being at my school for the past two weeks is a good thing. I think it will take a few days to get settle back in to my home routine. The girls were forced to take ownership of their morning and afternoon routine while I was away--it's about time, some would say. However, I am here and I love to help them, because I know that there will be a day in the not-too-distant-future that the only lunches I pack in the morning will be mine & Randy's.
I wrote about my long trip out to California, in my previous post. I did not write while there, for there was not time. I'm not certain there is time this morning, but I'm 'squeezing it in'! My journey home from Northern Illinois yesterday astonished me. I was not expecting to see the breath taking color and beauty that I encountered as I drove. The leaves had turned, and there has been just enough rain to force the grass to be a lush bold color of green--the sky was overcast with gorgeous shades of grey and white--huge clouds that filtered the sun light, putting such a combination of shadows and bright light in the right places. Almost the entire 4.5 hours was spent marveling at how the colors beautifully complemented one another.
That in the midst of listening to a 'radio-sermon' about what a chaotic world we live in! And the thing is, he was preaching from the book of Judges--and speaking about how chaotic it was, even in those days. I do no think it was a coincidence that this preacher was speaking of leaders from the book of Judges, and I just finished my intensive week of Catalytic Leadership class. The hilarity of God's provision never ceases to WOW me. As I contemplated the clouds, and the chaotic state of affairs in our world and I considered leadership --I was reminded of God's Sovereignty once more. For, even when we cannot see what He's doing (those grey overcast), He is at work--writing His story in our lives. Jeremy Camp sings in one of his songs, these words--'like a story book with dreams that are meant to see.' That is the best description of what I felt as I drove through such beauty, like driving through a dream, or story book for no camera or paint brush could have captured it.
God is continually unfolding the next part to our lives. Always, there is an element of 'trouble', for we were promised by King Jesus that in this world we would have it...but in spite of the trouble, or through the trouble, or because of the trouble, His goodness, His purposes and His glory prevail.
In the midst of all the grey overtones, yesterday, the sun still shined through to show off the brilliant colors contained in the landscape, which seemed to whisper,
welcome home Marsha --see there are trees in Illinois
--enjoy the view and the journey
--but remember to take time to
Be Still and Know that I am God!
