My ladies Bible study group just started last week in the book of Romans. Romans 1:19-20 says They [sinful, wicked people] know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. One of the questions from this passage asked “Mentally review some of your own experiences with God’s creation. What do these reveal to you about God?
As usual, God’s timing is impeccable. Chris left yesterday afternoon to attend a conference in Portland, Oregon. As always, I had several fun projects planned to keep me occupied—projects that are harder for me to do when he’s home—like sewing Roman shades for my office. I purchased the fabric for this well over a year ago, but it took me this long to gather the other necessary items and find an extended period of time to dig in. But something took me off track—a clog in the bathroom sink.
So for several hours yesterday evening, I fought the miniscule space under the sink only to be left with a mess in the bathroom and the project still unfinished. The Youtube video makes it look easy. Of course, the guy in the video doesn’t have the encumbrance of a cabinet surrounding the piping and he has all the necessary tools to get the job done. But I digress. My point is that I went to bed last night at eleven frustrated, tired and hunched over from back pain, completely forgetting the amazing revelation from God that I viewed yesterday morning with Chris and my in-laws.
In the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, most of us forget to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. But yesterday morning, Chris and I, along with my in-laws, drove up to Daffodil Hill. Okay, it’s not much of a drive for us (the back trails from our house is only about a mile) but we made the time, nonetheless. Years ago, the owners of this little piece of heaven opened up their place during daffodil season to bless anyone and everyone who stops by—and it’s free. How many tourist attractions can boast that? The grounds are filled with daffodils (obviously) and quaint outbuildings that date back to the 1800’s.
What caught our attention right away is that once you step into this little wonderland, the craziness of life just flitters away. Everyone there meanders along the paths, gazing at God’s beauty in a meditative state. No one was on their cell phones (well, except me—I was snapping pictures with mine) or speaking above hushed voices. And as we made our way to the end, we were enraptured by a magnificent sight—a male peacock in full splendor.
It was as if this peacock knew he was making a spectacle of himself, tail feathers open, prancing about so we could get a full 180 degree view. Brilliant turquoise, green, brown and black combined to form beauty beyond what we as humans (or my cell phone camera) can recreate. And as the females gathered, he shook his fan of feathers in a wave of motion that created a whish, whish, whish sound. How anyone could view such a wondrous sight and question God’s existence is beyond me. Their hearts must definitely be hardened, as Romans states. And yet, while I fought the minute issue of bathroom plumbing last night, the wonder of the day dissipated.
But God is merciful. He reminded me of what’s important in this life when I opened up my study this morning. It’s not the bathroom sink or those other pesky, little trials of this life. It’s Him. It’s how we are able to gaze upon His glory and praise His name for the blessings that surround us, if we just stop long enough to take notice. And although my bathroom still resembles a plumber’s nightmare, I will tackle it with a new outlook and keep in the forefront of my mind the picture of that spectacular peacock God graced me with only yesterday.
