It sparkles like diamonds…
When the morning sun hits ice covered branches the entire tree looks as if it were coated with thousands of diamonds. Of course there is another side to an ice storm. From my office I have great view of the Chinese Elm trees behind the church. And sunlight is making their branches sparkle like diamonds – even if they are lying on the ground.
Branches weighed down with ice, break free and fall indiscriminately; not caring if they bring down other branches, take out power lines, break windshields, or collapse roofs. Days after the storm the clean-up continues. Communities set up and man emergency shelters. City crews work diligently to the clear streets. And utility workers work tirelessly to restore power and phone service.
Recently a representative from Westar Energy was interviewed by a local TV station. He shared a little about the efforts of the company to restore power and in so doing said something that got me thinking. He said, “Everyone relies on electrical power.”
There’s something about sitting in a cold and dark house that makes you understand the truth of his statement. So much of our daily existence – our homes, schools, churches, farms, and businesses are powered by electricity and things grind to a halt when the power supply is cut off.
Now you would think our dependence upon such a vital source of power would cause us to treat it with continual respect and great appreciation. After all something so important should be admired, cherished, and celebrated, shouldn’t it?
Do you think about electricity when day after day it surges through the power lines? Do you celebrate when you flip a switch and a light comes on? The truth for most of us is – it is the absence of electricity that causes us to notice electricity.
There is another Power that too often goes unnoticed, unappreciated, and uncelebrated. A Power that is more susceptible to being overlooked because an “interruption in service” never happens. Yet we owe our very existence to this Power. And daily, whether we realize it or not, we rely on It to continue caring for Its creation, of which we are a part.
So, when you gaze at the diamonds sparkling in the downed limbs surrounding you, and you wonder if “power” will ever be restored – lift your praises to faithful One who has promised to never leave you. And when the debris is cleared, “power” restored, and your life is back to normal – remember to rely upon and celebrate the Power of powers. No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Who should not revere you, O King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you. Jeremiah 10:6-7 (NIV)
In the Light,
Ron
