First Find
This summer, I bought a zoo pass so that I could go there every few weeks to witness the changing colors of the botanical gardens as they start their journey through the summer months. At the beginning of August, my wheelchair started to become unstable and I was having difficulty driving it safely. At the same time, I started to suffer acute pain in my lower back.
By the end of August, I felt well enough to make my way to the zoo. Once there, I desperately drove around, only to realize that I missed out on the pageantry that comes when every flower is simultaneously in full bloom.
I discovered an area of un-chartered foliage nestled up against the fence that separated the zoo grounds from the public pathway. I drove one way, looking over my left shoulder, with the sun in front of me, and then I turned around, looking over my right shoulder with the sun switched to behind me. The directional change with perspective of where the sun was shining illuminated the dry foliage under large bushes. These delicate bushes looked like they were spray-painted with the most brilliant shades of copper, bronze, and subtle sparkles of rose pink.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
As I moved along the path, still hopeful I would find a colorful bloom, I happened upon a Salvia plant. This plant stood about three feet tall with variegated leaves that had started to turn brown along the edges. Coming up from the center was a foot long stock with the tiny, cone-shaped purple flowers. That evening I found out that the name Salvia comes from the Latin salvere means: “To feel well and healthy”. That was revealing.
As I peered into the withered flowers, there was a flurry of activity. There were flies, ants, bumblebees, beetles, and monarch butterflies. There were all doing their little dance while they rummaged, pollinated, and harvested that season’s nectar. It was this concentrated space of activity that God showed Himself most powerful and steadfast in His love. Although change is not readily accepted, albeit a broken chair and broken spirits, it is the starting of a season – to everything there is a purpose under heaven – where I need to learn new harvesting techniques to embrace these transformations.
Oswald Chambers wrote, “Let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ.”
Second Find
A few weeks later, the pain in my back flared up again and this time it was mind-numbing. On one particular afternoon, while I was waiting for an emergency order of codeine, a small group of people appeared in the living room, seemingly to survey the area. Turns out the bustling of human bodies was that of the director of the building, provincial auditor and the manager of support services. They asked me if that was my painting sitting on the table. For the last four months, I have been working on an old truck in front of a brown barn.
I normally leave my art out on the table because my room is too small to hold all my artistic accouterments. Plus, it shows off my talent to the public.
This was the conversation:
Director: “Is this your picture?”
Me: “Yes it is. I painted that with my mouth.”
Manager: “Your mouth?! Wow, that’s amazing!”
I then found the mindset to tell the Director to go into my purse and get my business cards.
Everyone: “Thank you, thank you very much; You’re so very talented. We look forward to going to the Web site. Keep up the good work.”
That moment, after this brief encounter of inspiration and awe, I felt God physically yank me to Himself, like that of a firefighter pulling someone out underneath the weight of a burning car. Once the smoke cleared, sort of speak, the painkiller took effect, and I drank the refreshing water of God’s grace, He was able to show me the riches and their value that lay within me.
God encourages me through Scripture, people that I’ve met, and my daily needs. This is all well in times where I am in a good place at a good time. But when I am experiencing my darkest days of acute pain, isolation, and overwhelming sadness, God shows Himself in light, so brilliant and breathtaking that I will take it and tuck it in my heart so I can use it “as a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.
Treasure can always be found when the light shines in all directions.
