 |
|
I think I'm telling the truth when I say that God's intervention in our lives often goes unrecognized. The reason is that we miss the long view. Things move along, seemingly naturally. In other cases, we fail to see because the story is unfinished. I have recorded a number of stories where the subject had gone through times and events that were very trying-where the enemy seemed to be life itself. But in the end God turned it all around. (I will be reporting some of them in this column.) I feel very fortunate to have identified God's hand in my life. And I have also been through the fire. The story you are about to read does not include the fiery trials, just the end result. Without thinking about it I would have entirely missed it. I call it THE GREAT DISCOVERY. Perhaps as you read it you will see God working in your life. If so, I'd like to hear about it. THE GREAT DISCOVERY Quiet conversation, the occasional hiss of water in the pipes and the clacking of dishes coming from the kitchen assured us that we were safe. Grandma and Grandpa were cleaning up. And besides, we were laughing as quietly as we could. Dinner had ended with our favorite desert, tree ripe peaches and home made ice cream. Actually, the whole day had been a peaches and ice cream day. Grandad had worked late, so after dinner, it was already "past bedtime". Brother Jim and I both knew that "past bedtime" really meant "no funny business." How could a child suddenly shut down a day like that? Impossible. So, when my brother, got his leg poked through the trap door of his pajamas, he fell down giggling. Giggles are contagious among little kids; and though my hand was over my mouth, the giggles came bubbling out. I put both feet through the back door of my pajamas and pulled them up backwards. Another round of laughter. What had started as a funny mistake became a free-for-all of silliness with pajamas, trying to top the first incident with all kinds of variations of the same theme. We thought we were laughing quietly. The bedroom door opened. Grandad peeked in. "What's going on in here?" the wrinkles in the corner of his eyes were laughing too, though he was trying not to smile. But then, that was how he smiled: by trying not to smile. A short chuckle and, "c'mon you bums, lets get you ready." Then his big powerful arms pulled us close, one on each side and lifted us up to his height. (How can grown-ups walk with their heads so far off the floor?) "Let's go out and look at the stars." Then he carried us out into the back yard. As he stepped from the porch, a ray of light from the doorway lay across the yard and dimly climbed the shed beyond, a slender world that grew slim and vanished as Grandma gently shut the door. This was before city lights washed the night skies with their star shrouding glow. So, after the last blue blush of twilight had faded, the sky was ruled by stars. Without the moon, darkness was all about. Through the trees and out in the distances, we could see lights from a few neighboring houses, like ships drifting in the sea of night. And all around, the shelter of his love made it exciting and comfortable. Gazing upward, my innocent mind was enthralled with the immense, open vault of space, dusted with countless tiny stars. There arched the Milky Way its phantom trail across the sky. Mystery and awe sang among the stars, bright and dim. And then the adventure began. For Grandad told of things we could never experience, but believed because of love; of far distances that no man could ever go, of giant furnaces and strange worlds, gigantic mountains and deep ravines, cities populated by incredible beings, planets with rings and many moons, of speeds and times, of numbers and sizes, of wonders that would only be seen when men dreamed. And my little mind reached out to know. As he talked, I flew those impossible distances. I saw the marvels of which he spoke, and contrived wonders to fill the gap of discovery. My space ship was the cocoon of Grandad's love, surrounding me with strength and the freedom of adventure. My interest in science was thus began through wonder, trust and love. It would be fifty years before I would realize that Grandad was teaching me about God. Even though I became involved in the paranormal and declared myself an atheist for many years, His gentle guidance through many years turned me around. Now I see science supporting the Bible on every front, even explaining the scriptures. There have been many such discoveries thousands of them. But the greatest for me was finding God's grace. I wait with excitement for the discovery of Heaven, where there will be things we cannot now imagine. |
