Scenic Glimpses

Spring has arrived.
Even though it has been on the calendar for weeks, it has not felt like spring.
The temperature was finally in the 70’s.
The jacket I wore in the morning, I did not need in the afternoon.

I drove to Lancaster…the place that rejuvenates my spirit.
I was going to buy two porch rockers.
It was such a lovely day…sun shining…cows in the fields…Amish buggies on the road.

I got to my destination and chose my two rockers.
They were in a storage location around the corner from the store.
I followed the man in my car.

We turned a corner and entered another world.
I saw a small boy walking along the road that probably gets few cars.
He was in his little black suit and straw hat.
I noticed he was wearing muddy, rubber boots.

We kept climbing a hill until we finally came to a dead end.
The man turned.
I followed.

He directed me to pull in backwards so he could put the rockers in my car.
As I waited, I took in the incredible view.
We were up so high…above everything it seemed.

I got out of my car to take it all in.
The beauty took my breath away.
Below me was the countryside.
I could see every farm.

The fields were turned over…ready for planting.
The sight of the brown earth, with its perfectly straight-edged borders, amazed me.
The fields of green grass were next to the fields of brown earth.
It made a patchwork quilt as I looked from above.

I saw laundry on clotheslines…neat, orderly, colorful.
I saw cows that looked like Oreo cookies from where I was standing.
There was a brook that weaved through the fields.
Goats, chickens, horses…not a car in sight.

I actually felt like I was intruding.

My scenic vista.
My overlook.
Solace.

My thoughts were interrupted by the man returning with my rockers.
I told him how beautiful this was, as I waved my hand over all my eyes could see.
What a blessing it must be to see all of this each day.
He smiled and took in a deep breath as if to inhale the beauty.

I looked again and saw the hint of green ready to burst forth from the trees.
The sky was blue with cotton ball clouds.
The world down there seemed miles away from the world up here.

I will put them in the car for you.
Oh, yes…thank you, I said…forgetting why I came here in the first place.

I could have stayed there for hours.

As I reluctantly drove away, I thought of my limited perspective.
I am no different than a horse wearing blinders.
I see only directly in front of me…yet think I know so much.

From up there, I could see the whole picture.
From up there, I saw how things are connected to other things.
From up there, I realized how small I really am.

It helped me see God in a new way.

From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth – He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do…but the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love…(Psalm 33:13-15,18)

I love that I serve a God who watches over all He has made.
I love that I serve a God who has a panoramic view.
I love that I can trust Him.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have our own scenic vista?
How wonderful to see the scope of our life before us.
Or would it be so wonderful?

With our limited knowledge and limited vision, we couldn’t possibly take it all in.
We would be overwhelmed if we knew what God knows.
We would not know what to do with it.

We would be intimidated by the straight-edged borders, fearful of the winding brook, skeptical of the lack of cars, curious about what is beyond the things we see.

God knows that about us.
That is why He has the whole picture.

He, in His grace, gives us glimpses of that vast beauty.
It is enough to whet our appetite for heaven.
It is enough to make us long for Him.

Until that day, we glimpse and we marvel.
One day we will see clearly and fall at His feet in worship.

We can still praise Him in the glimpses.
We must.
That is what we were created to do.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. (Psalm 150:6)