REFLECTIONS
October 4, 2009
 
 
“You shall see greater things than these."
John 1:50
 
 
Season of Discovery
 
Even as the calendar pages approach the eventual climb up heaven’s stairway, life is always an adventure and discoveries along the way are never ending. Once I wondered if there was a level of understanding life that signaled God to call us into his loving arms. Now, I don’t believe that is how God works, but the longer I live the more I discover about life; and the more I discover about life, the more I realize that a lifetime is not enough to discover it all. But here are some of the things I have learned along the way.
As a young child I discovered me and that I am different from everyone else. The blend of looks, talents, and experiences are unlike anyone else that ever lived. I think it means that I was made special. I think you are made special too. These discoveries help me accept who I am and they help me appreciate who you are. It’s where love begins.
Love is a beautiful discovery. I found love first from the warm, tender feelings someone else had for me. Then I discovered how good it felt when I also gave those feelings back. Since those early days I discovered that love is more than warm feelings. I found that love is an obedient caring for others no matter the warmth of my feelings.
I am struck by the beauty of the earth—the wonder of a morning sunrise, the majesty of snowcapped mountains, the peacefulness of flowing streams, the life from the sounds of nature, and the miracle of new life coming into the world. Yet lurking amidst the beautiful things, I discovered grief, suffering, and pain. Not everyone loves and not everyone feels loved. An evil force is waiting to take away all that is beautiful about life. And I discovered that the evil force lives in me—that I am not good. I need a savior.
Then I discovered the creator of it all—a loving God. I learned the story the Bible tells of his grace and how He sent his Son into the world that I might have everlasting life. And these discoveries gave my life purpose and a calling.
Beauty, love, and grace inspire happiness and joy. Purpose and calling help withstand disappointment, adversity, and despair. And there are more discoveries to add to the list though none of us experience them in the same way. That is a discovery itself.
Our time in this world is a season of discovery. It is a season to find our Lord. It is a season to care for those that have not found him. It is a season to share God’s love and grace with those around us. It is a season to discover that the next one shall see even greater things than this.
By his grace, the next season shall see everlasting life in the loving arms of God.
 
“You are the light of the world.”
RichardÌ


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