The outlook on the World is pretty dismal at the moment. The War in Ukraine is dragging on and the so-called peace process and cease-file agreements keep getting violated. The bloodbath in Gaza is continuing. War in Sudan, in Myanmar, and now also possible in Kashmir. There will be no real peace until He return.
I keep hoping and expecting for someone to step in with enough clout to knock their heads together and put a stop to the wars. This will likely be the Antichrist, so fasten your seat belts, but God only knows when that will happen.
I was sitting in the garden today and watching a pretty palm with it's leaves spread out. What a beautiful creation. There is nothing like nature to give you faith in God's presence and care for us in spite of other circumstances.
That palm plant actually has an interesting story. We got it a few years back and had planted it in a big pot. And it was nice for a while. Then one time it lost all it's leaves and it looked dead - almost like a rotten pineapple.
But instead of throwing it out we decided to plant it in the ground to see if it would revive. One year went by, it still looked dead as a doornail. We just left it there and forgot about it.
About one more year later we suddenly discovered to our amazement that it had a whole bunch of new leaves. It had sprung back to life after two years sitting in the ground with time to grow roots.
To us that was something of a miracle and we were so thankful that we hadn't given up and thrown it out when it looked like a gonner.
I guess sometimes we just have to be patient and wait for God to work, whether in nature or in World situations. We know that eventually the Prince of Peace will come and clean up the mess and let the good stuff spring forth again.
In the meantime we can make the best of it. Be a light in the darkness, let out light so shine. Loving our neighbors, showing kindness to the unkind, showing mercy to those in need and to those who don't deserve it (we are all unworthy), building community and fellowship with love, forgiveness and kindness.
I know that's easier said than done. But we have to try. What's the alternative?
"For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease." ~ Job 14:7
