Seeing God

Last week I was able to spend a couple of days at our family cabin in southeast Missouri. The Cabin has always been a place of refuge, a sanctuary, for me.  However, this was the first time I had been there alone in 7 years and the first time at all since I was slammed with the depression of the past year.

I was nervous. tentative. a little anxious. and cautious with myself.  but God was there.

I made a new bouquet for Luke's grave.  And just sat there for a while. The dogwoods and redbuds were blooming. Other trees had fresh green leaves. Birds were singing. The wind was stirring dried leaves on the ground. It was completely filled with sounds and images of God's creation.  And I soaked it in. And was filled with peace.

I walked around with my camera and made futile attempts to capture some of the images God gave me.  One image is forever burned in my memory. And it was one that was impossible to capture.  A small stand of flowering trees were surrounded by taller trees that were still winter bare.  These flowering trees were covered in little white flowers that had such a sweet smell.  As I was standing in the gentle warmth of the spring sunshine, breathing in the sweet perfume of the flowers, marveling the delicate white flowers on these small trees, they literally came alive. Dozens of butterflies started fluttering around the trees. Yellow. Bright blue. Orange.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. My heart felt joy. Indescribable joy. It took my breath away. God is ... WOW! God's glory surrounded me and filled my senses in that moment.  I saw Him there ... in the sunshine, the flowers, the sweet smell, the butterflies, the joy.  I felt him. He filled my heart. I was literally awestruck ... and it was such an unfamiliar feeling, but one I never want to forget.

God is ... WOW!