"I spread out my hands to You, God ... My soul longs for You like a thirsty land." Psalm 143:6
It's April 3, 2020. Covid-19 is still circling the globe. News of it is everywhere. It's hard not to be distracted by it: almost vacant parking lots, empty schools and businesses, social distancing, people wearing various kinds of masks, washing hands over and over, and news report after news report.
If we let it, the Covid-19 chaos and trauma will distract us from God's steadfast love, His mercy and His grace. We will miss the beauty of the northern hemisphere's emerging growth of spring. We won't notice the ruby red tulips, the lemon coloured daffodils and the purple hyacinths. We'll miss the rabbits coming out to eat the new shoots of grass and the robins flying north.
Let's not.
Instead, let's choose to appreciate the warmth of the springtime sun. Let's bask in its ability to light up dark places just like the Son - God's only begotten Son - who shines His light and His love into all the dark places in our hearts, and in our minds, and in our circumstances.
Human arms may hug us and human hands may touch us, but it is God's arms and hands that hold us up as we struggle through life's blows. We can be hemmed in on all sides, but God can lift us up and out.
As we look at the portrait of Jesus that the Bible shares with us, we see how He lifted the children up into His arms. He touched them. He blessed them. We are never too old for Jesus to lift and touch and bless us.
In the midst of reading of these words, is your soul longing for God like a thirsty land? He's just one word away.
His one word is "Come". Our one word is "Yes".
May the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that He promises, be yours in this very moment and in every moment to come.
Yes?