Monday, October 20, 2014

Bubbles of Hope

Bubbles by John Everett Millais
My husband and I bought this print in Williamsburg, VA years ago.  I fell in love with it.  Can't you feel the hope in this little guy's heart...hoping that beautifully iridescent thing that he had just created will float on the air forever for him to cherish?  
Then in an instant it bursts and the beauty and wonder are gone. 

This little guy also reminds me of another little guy that I haven't met in person, but was anticipating our meeting about the time I found the painting.  I know the two look alike - the bubble craftsman and my sister's miscarried little wide-eyed blond boy.  My mother-in-law, who "graduated to Beulah Land" last year loved to hear my own little blond guy giggle and chase the bubbles she created for him.  I'm really looking forward to blowing bubbles together, all of us, in Heaven.  Surely the silver,  rainbow-catching bubbles won't burst into nothingness in Heaven's breezes.

 It really hurts to watch our dreams break apart and float away.  It is so disillusioning  when our beautiful, hope filled bubbles burst.  Then all the questions flood in and we wonder if we should keep trying.  Old self-doubts stab at our hearts:  Do we really have what it takes?  

Bethel Music's Amanda Cook has crafted hopeful lyrics in her song, "Wonder"

     "...wide eyed and mystified, may we be just like a child, staring at the beauty of our King
     ...You are beautiful in all Your ways..."

I've been singing this song for two weeks now.  Finally, I have to ask myself, do I really believe that God is beautiful in all His ways - in the pain of watching family members wretch under cancer's claw - in the insecurity  of "more month than money" - in the battle to believe that "there's some good left in this world and it's worth fighting for" (credit Samwise Gamgee in Lord of the Rings, but that's another blog for another day!)
Can I see the Lord of all beauty and hope in all the pathways he leads me on?  The bottom line is that I must.  I must, and I really would like to see you do that as well. 

1 Peter 3:15 "...and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you..."  (KJV)

The reason for this hope and the secret of its buoyant life inside the believer's heart is that we can trust that there is an open door into our eternal home with the presence of our King accessible at any time!  Look to Jesus, Who has anchored our hearts to look forward to the resurrected life and sent the Holy Spirit to seal that hope in our hearts everyday.  The Spirit of God Himself leads us personally into constant reflection that we have distinct stories that testify of how God has led us through battles and made our songs sweeter through the struggles.  Therefore, who can argue with you about the hope in your heart that is actually founded upon the evidence that God's strong hand has led you through your storms?

Be ready when they ask, "How did you come upon this hope?"  "What does it consist of?"  "What is the key to me getting the same hope in my life?"

Be encouraged to stay "wide eyed and mystified" and full of hope as you expect the God of the unexpected to be His beautiful self in all the paths He leads you down.

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