November 5, 2010

A Mosaic of Color

Looking at the leaves that fell from the trees in yesterday's storm, I surprise myself when I recognize that my first thought is how beautiful the mosaic of color on my lawn is.

Not that I ‘must’ get out and rake before the leaves smother the grass.
Not how difficult that will be while the leaves are wet.
Instead, joy at the beauty of creation.

I want to hold on to that joy in my life. Yet, as my day begins, it becomes crowded with discouraging news:

  • A hurricane bearing down on Haiti
  • The story of a family struggling to make ends meet as a result of unemployment and underemployment
  • The news that my friend with cancer is beginning hospice care

I want to send a note of encouragement to my friend yet I am overcome with feelings of inadequacy. Everything I write feels hollow. What could I possibly say to make her situation better?

And then it hits me: it doesn’t really matter what I write. It is the act of writing, of reaching out and saying “I care.”

The email I send shares the story of the joy I felt earlier in the day when I experienced the beauty of the mosaic of leaves in my backyard.

As I sat down to write this blog, I reflected on the trials Peter speaks of designed to test our faith: How do we attain, maintain, and share the glory of God during dark, rainy days? What can each of us do, individually and as members of congregations, to help keep our faith strong during times of trial?

How do we hold on to, and share, the simple joy found in a mosaic of yellow and orange leaves on a cold, rainy day?