Finding Treasures

I took a walk up to Rocky Butte. The sun in my eye, peeking through the leaves, evidence of another day of miracles. It wasn't one of those intentional health walks. Just a dilly-dally kind of walk where I poke my nose into the bushes and stare the flowers shy. I wasn't alone. God decided to come along too. We haven't had one of those for a long time. Our private nature walks - where my eyes drink in the beauty around and I ooh-ahh appropriately to my walking Partner. I make silly comments about the crooked tree and the obstinate clump of ferns that decided to grow on a dying branch. He grunts. Sometimes, He laughs. Most times, He just nods knowingly of secrets I dare not ask about. We walked up to the peak of Rocky Butte and I sat down on the stony wall, grabbing the sides, not wanting to share Humpty-Dumpty's fate of falling over. My walking Partner pointed to the two grand mountains, the rocks beginning to show through the melting white. I complimented Him on His creativity and power. We looked at the trees of different shapes and sizes, some graceful in the wind, others majestic and tall. Then He leaned over and told me a secret. An open secret really. "Ching, I know every detail of what happens in and around that tree over there. I am there watching every time each new needley leaf pokes through the base of the bud. I know the name of the same little brown bird that sits contently on his branch, each time the sun bursts orange in the sky. Look at the Willamette River. I know every detail of each living creature swimming in her. How much more do I know about the details of your heart's dream, your life's disappointments, hopes and strivings? More than that Ching... I care enough to do something about it. I care enough to make My every eternal plan to bless you - a reality."

Lord, I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.