PERSPECTIVE

It was a gray and gloomy day by my account. The sun was hidden beneath the clouds. The wind was blustery as it caused the trees to sway to and fro. Dry leaves swirled across the yard from one side to the other. The wind chimes rang loudly and constant. I was bummed from the start. The weather forecast had said sunny with temps in the 70's.

She was freshly awake from a good night's sleep, ready to charge forth into the day. As she approached the wall of French doors that look into the yard, she asked "Can I see outside?" I told her yes. She greeted the day with her bright smile that is oh so her and exclaimed.... "Oh Mimi! It's a BEAUTIFUL day!"

Perspective.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I saw gray skies. She saw beauty.

Our attitude colors every situation we approach....from the weather to life and death matters. Some can find a silver lining in any cloud. Others cannot see it when the gleam of the silver is blinding their eyes! Perspective.

It reminds me of a story I read once of two patients sharing a room in a hospital for an extended stay. The one who was the most ill was in a bed distant from the window. So the man closest to the window each day would describe to his roommate what he saw. He described a lovely park with flowers around a fountain and a pretty lady walking a cute little dog. Another day he talked of the warmth of the sunshine on his face and how blue the sky was. Each day he painted a picture for the ill man of the world outside his window. Then suddenly without warning he was gone. The man who had been so ill asked the nurse to move him closer to the window. He wanted to gaze upon the beautiful scenery he had only heard about up til now. It would make him feel closer to the friend he had suddenly lost. As the nurse wheeled him to the window, he was stunned! There was nothing outside the window but a brick wall...no view at all. No park, no flowers, no fountain. One could scarcely see the sky. Puzzled, he turned to the nurse and said, "I don't understand. He described everything so perfectly that he saw." The nurse was equally puzzled. "Well, that is truly odd. You see, he was blind."

As you face your day today, what is YOUR perspective?


"From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the name of the Lord shall be praised!" Psalm 113: 3

STORMS

Why does God allow storms?

Today our forecast calls for high winds, thunderstorms and heavy rain. That is pretty much the outlook for much of the week. Depressing.

Last week was the one year anniversary of the terrible tornados that ripped through the Mid South, causing damage and destruction in the millions in Memphis and Jackson, Tennessee. I'm sure that when many of those people whose homes and lives were affected by those storms hear a thunderclap, something within them shivers!

A fellow class member shared Sunday that he had lived for a time in the Chicago area. He spoke of all the snow and ice and dreary days...all of which he did not miss AT ALL!! He said there was a period of 66 days when there was NO sunshine !! Let me tell you, I would NOT have survived!!

I am solar energized. I do not do well when there are long periods of gray skies! I remember a few years ago, we went for weeks like that. I was miserable! It just so happened after a few weeks that we flew to Miami for our first cruise. I can remember how wonderful it was when we got ABOVE the clouds and we saw the sun break through. It was HEAVEN!!

So back to the original question....Why does God allow storms?

Well, I think there are many answers to that, but the simplist is so that we will appreciate the sunshine.

If all we ever had was sunshine....no rain, no storms, no heavy clouds....we would so take those sunny days for granted. But....when we've spent days inside due to cold or rain, when the skies have been dark and gray, when we've not had the warmth of the sun on our faces for a very long time and then....THE SUN COMES SHINING THROUGH....oh is that not a glorious day?!!!

Last week, after much cold and rain, we were supposed to have beautiful, sunny weather. In fact, it was supposed to be near 65 degrees. I was keeping my granddaughter that day and was looking forward to our spending the entire day OUTSIDE. This child LOVES the outdoors!! She is in her glory digging in the dirt. (Think I may have a gardener on my hands??)

However, the day dawned gray and dismal with a cold wind blowing. We were both disappointed. Finally, about 4:00 the wind begin to die down and the sun emerged from behind the clouds. I said to her, "Hey...I think it's warm enough for us to go outside a while. Do you want to go?" Without a moment's hesitation, she dropped what she was doing and darted for the door, all the while saying with joyful exuberance, "Yeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssss...yet's go, Mimi!!"
As soon as I opened the door, out she flew, running with all her might, with a grin on her face as wide as the Mississippi!

Now in the summer when it's always warm and sunny, with rarely a rainy day, she is still happy to go outside, but the exuberance is not quite the same. Why? Because it becomes a daily occurrence.

God allows the periods of dark in our lives...our storms...to make us realize what a blessing it is to have those peaceful, sunny days when all is going well. We tend to muddle through our busy days, not giving a thought to the peace, until it comes crashing down in the darkness of our storms. Then, suddenly, we LONG for those bright, sunny peace-filled days.

If you are experiencing the dark night of a storm, just remember storms do NOT last forever. The sun will indeed shine again. At first you may see only a glimmer on the horizon, but be encouraged...it will SHINE again. Until it does, cling to Jesus...He will be your light in the darkness of the storm.