June 11, 2001
"...the God who gives life to the dead and
calls things that are not as though they were."
Romans 4:17b
It wasn't until my lunchtime prayerwalk that I finally got my glimpse of God today.. some days it just takes me a while. My office moved into Copley Square last fall and I haven't quite enjoyed my prayer walks as there is mostly concrete and buildings around here. I've been walking in different directions every day lately trying to find the route that has the least amount of noise and traffic and it wasn't until today that I discovered a route that give me some long stretches of grass and tree lined gravel paths that are somewhat quieter. As I walked that way I stumbled into a section of the Back Bay Fens where apartment dwellers have been allocated space to maintain a garden of their own... it's like little apartment units only they are gardens.. what a beautiful peaceful spot in the middle of the city. Every person has their own unique touch and each garden is a little showcase in the making.. it was so refreshing to be able to walk through it. I'm not good with estimates but it's probably just an acre in the middle of all these tall building, traffic, commercial routes, smog and noise and one side is bordered by an area that is rumored to have some unpleasant activity taking place (we don't walk on that side)... as I wandered through the gardens and marvelled at the beauty of it I was struck once again how only God can create beauty in the midst of the ugliest stuff. He isn't limited by circumstances, by the way things have always been, by what we can or can't envision, he's not limited by what's not there and he's not limited to the use of what is there. God is the perfect creator because he has an eye for what can be. Sometimes it's a result of my own sin but more lately I've felt overwhelmed by the ugliness of things from my past, at times I'm inclined to feel like a mess that can somehow never be fixed, that I can never be what God intended me to be.... but today was a bright shining reminder to keep my eyes fixed on the God who can and does create beauty in the absence or anything and in midst of the ugliest or most impossible situations. He made a valley of dry bones live, created breathtaking landscape from nothing has raised the dead to life... I'm limited in my vision but I'll be okay if I keep my eyes fixed on him who is able!!
"Now TO HIM WHO IS ABLE to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. "
Ephesians 3:20-21