In the midst of our ugliness

A few weeks ago I was visiting with a friend in the cafe of our local book store.  Looking out the window I saw a glorious sunset and couldn't resist going outside to take a picture with my cell phone (the only camera I had with me).  At the time all I could think was how I wished the cars, the parking lot, the neon signs, and the utility poles weren't sharing the scene with the sunset.
Often on my way to or from work I am so moved by the beauty of the sun and the clouds that I want to stop the car and gaze on it without distraction.  Even if I could stop, there would almost always be distraction in the form of our man-made landscape.
It was like that this morning - glorious skies, the light of fall that I can't begin to describe.  I wanted to take a photo but couldn't frame it without including utility poles.  I remembered this photo from the evening at the book store and my disappointment that it included all that commercial property.  I pulled it up on my phone and gave it another look.
That's when I realized that I had been blind to the true beauty of both of the scenes.
What did I see that I hadn't noticed before?  I saw God's glory in the midst of our ugliness - not isolated from it.  I was reminded that God is always "in the picture", even when we have focused on something else.

The treasure of his example

His heritage to his children wasn't words or possessions, but an unspoken treasure, the treasure of his example as a man and a father.-- Will Rogers Jr.

My daddy, who died in March 2009, would have been 91 today.

From a letter I wrote to my father on the occasion of his 80th birthday in September 2000. 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. . ." Galations 5:22-23

When I think of your influence on my life, I think of the fruit of the Spirit. The love you have given, the joy we see in your face when we’re gathered together, the patience with which you disciplined us, the kindness and goodness that are evident in all that you do, the gentleness with which you held and cared for your grandchildren, the self-control necessary to be a responsible husband, father, and son.
There is no way that I can adequately express how much your example. . .just the way you have lived your life. . .has meant to me.

Happy Birthday, Daddy.  I love you.