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Is there anything more glorious than a crisp autumn day? As the leaves start to change and the time for cozy sweaters arrives, I feel an electric charge in the air. The sky seems extra vivid in her blues, the clouds look fluffier than usual, and the moon shines bright as can be.
St. Francis of Assisi said "The world is a great stage on which God displays His many wonders." I love how the beauty of nature points to the glory of God and can be experienced in an almost mystical way, when we pay attention.
But here on earth, we can't always count on good weather.
By the time this reflection is published, a storm may rage in. Soon, our beautiful leaves will fall to the ground, and we will face the challenge of a Midwest winter. As I write this, some of the most gorgeous communities in our country are being shaken to their core by the effects of Hurricane Ivan. Collectively, we are all facing many sustainability challenges, due to pollution.
St. Francis also said "It was easy to love God in all that was beautiful. The lessons of deeper knowledge, though, instructed me to embrace God in all things." The question is: how do we embrace God in the storms of life as they crash upon the shores of our own souls? When everything goes wrong at once, our hearts get broken, and we struggle to manage the demands placed upon us by life?
I believe it's in the same way that we embrace Him in beauty - we pay attention. When we look for God in sacred truths presented to us in scripture, in the kindness of strangers, in the mercy we are shown, in the blessings we are given, and in the eternal promise of heaven - we are held in a field of grace and strengthened to continue our spiritual journey through all the seasons of life, no matter how difficult they may be.
Whatever weather you are experiencing in your heart right now, my prayer is for you to witness the presence of God and hold fast to His promises - He is with you, and He is glorious - all of the time.
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