The Fog of LIfe
Thick fog hangs heavily over the soggy fields this winter morning. Puddles of water stand as reminders of the intermittent drizzles. The drab brown landscape below and ashen sky above lend themselves to the dampened mood that surrounds this countryside. One can barely make out the tree lines beyond the shrouding fog. Bushes along the fences of harvested farmlands have long ago lost their foliage – revealing barren twigs and rusted barb wires that run along the winding roads. It is a chilly and somber day. But now and then, a ray of sunshine does break through small cracks in the clouds. Look closely and one can appreciate the water droplets that cling precariously on thorny branches along the wired fences – like tiny ornaments. Nearby, green sprouts on dead twigs promise the renewal of life. And among the grass are patches of tiny purple flowers (Henbit deadnettle) that thrive even in the dead of winter. Life must and does continue in the dead of winter.
It has been a difficult week for our nation as we mourn the loss of a beloved athlete, his beautiful daughter and loving friends in a tragic accident. This week, we also mourn the deaths of several law enforcement officers across the land in the line of duty. And overseas, we lost the lives of too many treasures to protect and preserve our freedom and the freedom of others. Closer to home, an fiery explosion at a marina in Scottsboro, Alabama killed eight, including a mother and her five children. And how many others succumbed to illnesses, accidents, suicides and homicides this week? In the blink of an eye, families were torn apart as sadness befell like the winter chill this week. It’s hard to wax religious eloquence in time like this other than believing that death has a meaning and life must continue in the dead of winter. And beyond the brevity of our life on earth is the promise of a permanent home in heaven. The occasional sun rays today promise a brighter future above the clouds. The green sprouts signify life anew with our Creator as our journey on earth ends. The tiny flowers among the grass are reminders of a pasture that has no border. And tiny droplets are tears that are momentarily shed now but wiped away in the afterlife. And that’s all that we can promise those who mourn this week because we cannot take their pain away.
Life is precious and brief and at times life is shrouded by the fog of winters or gripped by the sting of losses. That is what evil in the world strives to do. To divide, destroy and kill. So there is no time for us to quarrel over meaningless affairs. We have to help each other until we get to the other side of the fog. For the sake of each other, and that of God’s, let’s all try to be the light that warms, the sprouts that promise, the droplets that soften the sharp edges, and the flowers that color the fields when winter comes. As I drove away from the countryside this morning, I listened to Lauren Daigle’s rendition of “Don’t dream it’s over.” The lyrics sum it all up:
“Hey now, hey now
Don’t dream it’s over
Hey now, hey now
…………………………
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won’t win”
Finally, for those that lost loved ones this week, and for the rest of us, be reassured that on the other side of the fog – stand awaiting are the ones we mourn. They have arrived and so will we.
Paint Rock Valley, Alabama
2/1/2020
It has been a difficult week for our nation as we mourn the loss of a beloved athlete, his beautiful daughter and loving friends in a tragic accident. This week, we also mourn the deaths of several law enforcement officers across the land in the line of duty. And overseas, we lost the lives of too many treasures to protect and preserve our freedom and the freedom of others. Closer to home, an fiery explosion at a marina in Scottsboro, Alabama killed eight, including a mother and her five children. And how many others succumbed to illnesses, accidents, suicides and homicides this week? In the blink of an eye, families were torn apart as sadness befell like the winter chill this week. It’s hard to wax religious eloquence in time like this other than believing that death has a meaning and life must continue in the dead of winter. And beyond the brevity of our life on earth is the promise of a permanent home in heaven. The occasional sun rays today promise a brighter future above the clouds. The green sprouts signify life anew with our Creator as our journey on earth ends. The tiny flowers among the grass are reminders of a pasture that has no border. And tiny droplets are tears that are momentarily shed now but wiped away in the afterlife. And that’s all that we can promise those who mourn this week because we cannot take their pain away.
Life is precious and brief and at times life is shrouded by the fog of winters or gripped by the sting of losses. That is what evil in the world strives to do. To divide, destroy and kill. So there is no time for us to quarrel over meaningless affairs. We have to help each other until we get to the other side of the fog. For the sake of each other, and that of God’s, let’s all try to be the light that warms, the sprouts that promise, the droplets that soften the sharp edges, and the flowers that color the fields when winter comes. As I drove away from the countryside this morning, I listened to Lauren Daigle’s rendition of “Don’t dream it’s over.” The lyrics sum it all up:
“Hey now, hey now
Don’t dream it’s over
Hey now, hey now
…………………………
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won’t win”
Finally, for those that lost loved ones this week, and for the rest of us, be reassured that on the other side of the fog – stand awaiting are the ones we mourn. They have arrived and so will we.
Paint Rock Valley, Alabama
2/1/2020
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