Journeying to Grace

I apologize in advance for one more reference to the changing colors in my neighborhood. This should be the last time! However, what I saw, hiding in the very familiar, caught me by surprise and helped remind me of a much-needed lesson. I once again walked the loop in our nearby park as I’ve done countless times. Same path, same surrounding houses, same distance, same everything. This time, as I rounded the section closest to the street, I randomly looked across the street just in time to see incredibly vibrant red leaves on a round bush on the side of a house. When the leaves were green during the spring and summer, I never noticed. Maybe I never looked. But against the golden/yellow house, the rich red was prominent and got my attention. From where I was walking, it is only visible from a specific spot, so had I not looked up when I did, I would have missed it.

That discovery led me to recall the quarterly publication I receive from the university I attended. For fun, a small subtle image of the school mascot is hidden somewhere on the front cover. It’s often difficult to find. After a thorough search I usually discover it, yet there have been a few times when I gave up and had to read the answer at the back of the magazine. Once I locate the image (either on my own or with assistance), I can’t help but easily see it when I view the cover again. It’s so obvious now.

The red leaves and the mascot are subtle and can be elusive but only because I didn’t pay close attention. They were quietly hidden in the familiar. When I prayerfully seek guidance or answers, I find I am guilty of wanting a big sign or something obvious. But I believe God is much more personal than that. And in our conversations with Him, He asks us to listen. Since seeing those red leaves, I have prayed with this familiar passage from 1 Kings (19:11-13) as a reminder of God’s closeness if we only quiet ourselves to be with Him and truly hear Him:

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Let us pray that we do not miss the subtle, quiet whispers of God’s love and guidance. He may show us that perhaps what we’re seeking has been there all along—not hidden, just waiting to be discovered.