After all the rain and gloomy weather we have been experiencing in Northern VA, we are blessed today with a glorious, sunny, warm day! I took full advantage of it, and just returned from my lunchtime walk.
God always finds a special way to communicate with me, and today was no exception. As I walked, I looked over to the quasi-pond (drainage ditch/reservoir filled with rain overflow) in the front of our building. My eyes first took in the sight of muddy, dirty water. Then I noticed the paper cups, garbage and pieces of wood and cardboard floating by. All I could think of was “yucky, dirty mess.”
When I looked closer, I saw a turtle sitting on top of the floating piece of wood. Since I rarely see turtles in my day to day life, that sight made me smile. The next thing that my eyes were directed to was a few ducks serenely swimming, oblivious to the dirt and garbage scattered around them. Then a movement in the tall grass caught my attention, and there was a regal heron, standing proudly, partially hidden from view. Who would have thought I would see such beauty on my walk through a parking lot, in a filthy little pond?
So, of course, this scenario got me thinking.
Those beautiful creations of God, were smack dab in the middle of ugliness. However, they were not screaming in defiance, or questioning why God allowed them to be there. What they were doing, was simply “being what God created them to be.” They were swimming in the water, looking for and receiving the food that God provided for them, basking in the sunshine, and feeling His breeze gently cooling their bodies. Instead of fighting and questioning every aspect of their life, they accepted the reality of their surroundings, and continued to be the beings that God created them to be. They radiated their individual beauty, from the midst of their unclean environment.
We, as Christians, are in the midst of some serious unclean circumstances. There is much garbage floating in our world, and the dirtiness and muckiness of evil and perversity, surrounds us at every turn. Although we are quite aware that we are also sinful in nature, we confess our sins and ask God for His forgiveness. We are called to find refuge and live a pure life in Him.
At times the evil of this world is overwhelming and we forget that we are in His care. We forget that Our Lord’s peace is not given to us as the world gives…and no matter how hard we scream and shout, and attempt to fight the evil around us through our human ways, some evil will always remain until Jesus’ second coming.
The key is knowing who we are. Who we belong to. When our hearts, souls and beings are safe in the love of Jesus, we are free to be ourselves in this unclean, evil world. We are free to live the Divine Purpose our God created uniquely for each one of us. We are free to simply just be…to thank God every day for the blessings He gifts us with, and to be happy and peaceful in our innermost being. When we invite the Holy Spirit into our hearts to fill us with His love and light, our natural God-given beauty will shine brightly as a beacon to others…our hearts that are one with Jesus will shine and illuminate the world around us, exposing the evil for what it is. And drawing in those who are living in darkness, and searching for the one true light.
Don’t be afraid to be the light in the darkness. Don’t be afraid to be the beauty among confusion, ugliness and despair. Find your true identity in the love and mercy of Jesus, and feel the freedom of simply “being what God created you to be.”
May 25, 2016 at 3:26 pm
Beautifully written. Thank you for reminding us of God’s goodness and greatness everywhere.
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September 28, 2016 at 11:48 pm
Thank you very much for your comment! I was going through my old emails and just found your comment…it was a crazy time for us and I apologize for not replying sooner. God bless you:-)
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May 25, 2016 at 4:49 pm
Very good!!!
Thanks, Joe Maluso
>
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May 25, 2016 at 6:21 pm
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your story!
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September 28, 2016 at 11:49 pm
Thank you for your kind words! So sorry it took so long for me to respond.
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May 25, 2016 at 9:02 pm
Thank you for the reminder . And I thank God for using common scenes to express his love !
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September 29, 2016 at 12:08 am
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment:-)
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May 26, 2016 at 12:26 am
Beautiful!
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September 28, 2016 at 11:50 pm
Thank you, Vinodhini. Hope all is going well for you and your family!
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April 28, 2021 at 5:17 am
I read the post again today – I was just moments before reading this post was disturbed by a dream I had last night. Unable to understand what was that dream and what it meant. But your post reminds me to be what I can in the present 🙂
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April 28, 2021 at 9:13 am
So happy that this post brought you comfort.❤️
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May 28, 2016 at 2:49 pm
Wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing. “I learn something each time I read your blog!” Love you and God Bless, SR
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September 28, 2016 at 11:53 pm
Thank you very much, SR! I apologize for taking so long to respond. May was a crazy time for us, and I was just looking through old emails and posts, and came across your comment. May God continue to bless you through all the sadness, pain and also beauty that you are experiencing:-)
Love, peace and blessings,
Bernadette
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May 28, 2016 at 4:31 pm
Beautiful insight, as always. It’s hard to see the ugly and not question why we are in it sometimes. Thanks for the encouragement.
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September 28, 2016 at 11:54 pm
Mindy, as always, thank you so much for your friendship, support and love. Also thank you for your sweet words.
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June 1, 2016 at 10:12 am
Thank you for reminding me of this truth. Our perspective does impact the way we see the world. However, I also felt convicted that my words/speech can make the world better or uglier. It’s so easy to rag on everything that’s gone bad. Instead of pointing out the good in this world. 🙂
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September 28, 2016 at 11:57 pm
Karen, you are so right! We are all charged with shining our light in this dark world. Thank you for your input and support. I am very sorry that it took this long to respond:-(
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June 24, 2016 at 1:49 pm
A very good post! You are so right…we need to function in every place we find ourselves as God intends us to be. And too, we must look to see His beauty in those places we don’t think much of. His “footprint” is in everything, we can usually see it if we look hard enough…
Steve
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June 25, 2016 at 11:42 pm
So very true! May God bless you on your daily journey.
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June 27, 2016 at 11:55 am
Thanks for the reply and may the Lord love and keep you!
Steve…
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June 24, 2016 at 5:29 pm
I love your words here!! Perfect illustration.
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June 25, 2016 at 11:40 pm
Thank you so much for stopping by, and your kind words are very much appreciated:-)
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September 28, 2016 at 11:59 pm
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. I apologize for taking this long to respond. My life was so crazy during May and the months to follow. May God bless you:-)
Bernadette
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October 23, 2016 at 8:15 pm
Loved this!
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November 21, 2020 at 9:56 am
Reblogged this on somebodylovesmeblog and commented:
With all that is our reality right now, I thought I would re-share these thoughts. May God bless and have mercy on all of us.
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November 21, 2020 at 11:43 am
Absolutely love this!!!
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November 25, 2020 at 9:38 am
Thank you, Tina!
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November 21, 2020 at 12:57 pm
Thank YOU So very much!
Even in the muck of our lives:
When we seek God We find Him’
When we seek to hear God, we hear Him
& when we seek to See God, we Do see Him.
God Is Amazing and made each of us amazing too, so that we could, would and should do these things. Amen!
God Be with Us,
Patrick
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November 25, 2020 at 9:38 am
May God bless you, Patrick! Happy Thanksgiving:-)
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November 21, 2020 at 4:19 pm
God is so good to us, always offering beautiful evidence of his love.
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November 25, 2020 at 9:37 am
Amen!
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May 27, 2021 at 3:14 pm
Thank you for this beautifully written post! Such wise insight drawn from an ordinary (and littered!) pond. May I take my cue from those humble animals, and live in peace, with the purpose of being what God created me to be, and shine the light of Jesus in my own ordinary and littered pond!
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