Good morning…
“Downtown ATL,” she texted, sharing a cloud-layered photo taken from her porch.
“Twenty minutes later!” her camera captured a different view.
“I marveled at how the city was shrouded,” she explained, “and then seen with clarity soon after.”
Sometimes shrouded, sometimes seen, the city exists in both pictures above. Yet our ability to enjoy the stunning silhouette is dependent on factors beyond our control. We are powerless over the layers of influence. We don’t make clouds come. We can’t make them go. Yet for a bit of clarity, we explore Ecclesiastes 11 in the VOICE translation.
“Those who watch and wait for favorable winds never plant,” says verse 4, “and those who watch and fret over every cloud never harvest.” Paralyzed by uncertainty, often we find ourselves watching and waiting, watching and fretting. Are the winds favorable? Will the clouds pour rain? With a stifling fear of the unknown, we choose not to plant, which leads to no harvest. Much like the city above, sometimes hidden, sometimes seen, might we trust that our loving God is permanently here with us, regardless of our level of visibility?
“You can no more predict the path of the wind than you can explain how a child’s bones are formed in a mother’s womb,” continues verse 5. “Even more, you will never understand the workings of the God who made all things.” Facing life’s uncertainty, we can’t predict the path ahead or explain the new life forming within or comprehend the mysteries of our mammoth God. Living Lord, please tell us, “What are we to do?”
“Get up early to sow your seed,” encourages verse 6, “and in the evening find worthwhile things to do. For you never know which will profit you—maybe this, maybe that, maybe both.” Why not sow our seed every morning, finding worthwhile things to do each night? Only God knows what God is growing through us – maybe this, maybe that, maybe more.
“Hard work, not idleness, is at the heart of wisdom,” explains the footnote. “Rewards come when we most need and least expect them.” Surprised by glimpses of gorgeousness, deep gratitude is given to God, the Sustainer of us all.
…Sue…
