Reflections
On the face we see, and the one we're still becoming...
Summer!
Praise the God of our seasons, it’s finally Summer here!!!
We are celebrating that fact with all the outdoor upkeep that the cool, rainy spring didn’t allow — tomatoes, peppers, and flowers planted; deck cleaned, stained, and set up; dead trees chainsawed, and now some mulching in progress. You, too, I bet?
Update:
Quick health update: I am awaiting a surgery date for sinuses to alleviate the ongoing infection and chronic cough (caused by an illness and dental infection we cleaned up in February).
It looks like this will occur after our vacation later in June, so I will be flying and praying my head doesn’t explode (!!) lol. All joking aside, prayers are much appreciated, as it’s been a long four months of fighting and dragging this infected head around.
For whatever reason, God allowed this progression instead of bestowing a quicker healing. When discouragement tries to creep in, I remind myself to keep leaning on the promises of Jesus. He never leaves us alone, friends, and meets us right in the middle of our messes.
I’ve found comfort in resting in His peace and presence, in knowing that He works all things out for good and knows what’s best for us (even in unfamiliar medical issues).
Meanwhile, I know He is molding and shaping me more like Jesus through it all. We just gotta keep our eyes on Him! Remember our mantra—”Eyes on Christ!”
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
(Rom. 5: 3-5, ESV)
Poetry Intro:
I didn't intend to write a poem this week. I just looked in the mirror, and couldn’t stop noodling while I spread the mulch. What started as a small moment of honesty turned into something a bit bigger... I guess that means that this is a “Reflection on a reflection of our reflection!” Ha! (How’s that for some word-working!)
REFLECTIONS
Mirror reflects features
Surprising to me—
Wrinkles and lines
Etching hard years
Clearly displayed in
Frowns and fears;
Creeping grey hair
Now wiry and spare.
A few unneeded
requiring a pluck—
(All a bit much
This age run amok!)
Another glance
And what’s that I see?
Dark circling rings
Health under siege
Immune system down
Means burdens that stack
Multiple systems
Gone out of whack
When will I look
and finally discover
That my mirror reflects You
Instead of this other?
Your eyes that see others
Your ears that hear cries
Your mind full of wisdom
And arms that hold sighs
Your humble heart serving
And comfort for mourners
Your courage for battles
And solace for loners;
Oh, when will I look
And finally see
That my mirror reflects You
And so. much. less. me.
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory."
2 Cor. 3:18 (NIV)
What do you think? Can you relate to this reflection on our reflections?!?
For Worship:
Jeremy Riddle’s “We Crown You “— Live in the Prayer Room
(A song to take you right into the throne room!)
*Photos by 1) Viktor Forgacs and 2)Anastasia Sineokaya and 3) Carolina Veronez on Unsplash
**The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
***Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.