Beautiful One

Many songs have been written about the beauty of the Lord.  Because I am mostly a man, my whole concept of beauty is physical and partly tainted by sexual attraction.  This has made it extremely difficult for me to imagine 'the beauty of the Lord' as I sing and/or think about it.

I ran yesterday, I ran in the cooling evening.  I ran into a sprinkler and it was wonderful.  As I ran I contemplated on this and suddenly very vivid ideas impinged upon me as I prayed that I would better see and/or comprehend the beauty of an ethereal being from a corporeal point of view.

I saw my mother's face about 24 years ago the morning I woke her and asked for permission to go to church.  She did not look shocked or surprised, but a little pleased.  She got up and helped me and my sister (and others) get ready, made us breakfast and all.  She could have had the maid do it, but she did it herself and saw us off.

I saw Eugene Muzavazi walking the halls at Selbourne Routledge, living his life in a manner that made me want to be like him.  It was the first time I absolutely wanted to be like another person.

I saw my parents let me off scot-free when I would not take part in my grandfathers burial rituals that I was sure were contrary to the Bible.  And then taking my side against their siblings, aunts and uncles.

I saw Youth in Touch camps, events and Sanktifyd Ganxta concerts!!

I saw my grandmothers see me off at the airport and remembered the words of their prayers for me.

I saw Cheryl, Scottie, Chris and Maya, Timmy, Tifiny, Dr Wise and a bunch others who helped me through college.

I saw Christian smile.  Borchards and Dibellas swam about.  Jeremy once again said, "Hey man!  Walk with me, let's talk."  And then my parents were talking to people in my church in Verona.

I saw John, and met Ramona.  I saw Nashe and Nakamura, Phil, Leila, Emily and many faces from the hospital.

In short I saw a collage of people - Xian and otherwise, whose will it was to love me and I glorified Him for it.  I saw events that led me to this moment, and His hand guiding each clock tick.  I saw the dead bird that reminded me that He cares enough to know when each one falls and cares more for me.  I smelt new rain and flowers I do not know, I saw mountains I may never climb and meadows I would love to roll in.  I saw wheat waving in the wind in Stuart Draft and tried to imagine the same thing in the Midwest...

I had to stop.  It was literally overwhelming.

For now, that is the beauty of the Lord, until I can see Him, know Him as I am seen and known.  I think that will do for now.  What does your collage look like?