Friday, March 5
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
—Luke 12:27
Ken Kaisch is an Episcopal priest who was raised in Alaska, where on some days the sun shines for only a few hours. One day in elementary school his teacher asked the children, "Class, what color is the snow?"
Thinking her question a little daft they all answered, "The snow is white." "No, class. The snow is not white. What color is the snow?" Now that caused a little confusion for the students, because their teacher was a good one, and usually knew what she was talking about. But here she was, telling them that snow wasn't white. Her credibility was at stake.
Then, a quiet girl, the artistic one in the class, piped up from the back. "You're right. The snow isn't white. It's purple." Shocked jaws dropped. Purple? They all looked out their window simultaneously.
And that's when Ken saw it. The snow was purple. And others saw it too. They started shouting. Lavender. Pink. Gray. The snow wasn't white. It was lots of colors. Ken said his walk home that day was a wondrous one, full of amazement and colors he had never seen before.
From time to time baptisms are celebrated in Christian worship services. Some people who are willing and awake to the possibility may see the heavens open and the spirit of God descending upon the baptized like a dove, and a voice from heaven saying, "This is my child; my beloved." They might remember that same thing happening to them at their own baptism, and they might feel embraced as God's own beloved child.
On Sunday we break bread and share wine in my church. Some people who are willing and awake will sense the presence of the risen Christ and feel themselves to be nurtured on his divine life, renewed and forgiven, and made one with heaven and with all humanity.
The question is not, where is God, but rather, am I using my eyes and heart to see?
Open my eyes, O God, to the infinite possibilities and glory that is present throughout your wondrous creation, and let me see as you see. Amen.
These Signposts originally appeared on explorefaith in 2007.
