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4 2 07

The weather here in Madison and Hanover has been stunning the past couple of days. Birds are singing, the sun is shining, the colors of sunrise and sunset have been lovely, flowers are out everywhere and trees are budding. Yesterday morning, while I was getting ready for church, I looked out our window - past some of those budding trees - and saw a young couple walking to the Baptist church kitty-corner from us. They gave each other a kiss and had a jaunty spring in their steps. It was a delightful scene. 

And I felt so content and gratified. At that moment, all was well with the world. My fun and loving husband was out walking our companion dog, I was on my way to church where I have the privilege of receiving and giving love, the weather was soaking through to my bones, and there is a couple out there (that Baptist couple) in the world that loves each other and that joins in a faith community. It did come to me quickly, though, that not every view out every window in the world reveals such blessings.

Later in the day, I was still sitting content. Fabulous weather, still. Sitting out in our side yard with Doug, pleasantly reading and just being, being quiet, chatting, with the dog nestled in her custom-dug spot by the fence. I picked up a recent National Geographic and read about the horrific poaching of elephants in Chad. I am quite fond of elephants, and it was a hard article to read. But the kicker was what the author observed.

First, he made it clear that there is tremendous horror in human life in that same region - slavery, homelessness, violence, and poverty - and that humans and animals alike are caught up in this horror.

Second, that as much as these people live beset by enemies on all sides, with death and destruction visiting nearly every family, and as much as the elephants have learned to adapt and live with poachers destroying them and their young, these humans and animals alike remain capable of joy and play.

Friends and I were just talking a few days ago about all creation groaning in travail, as we read in Romans 8. And the Psalm appointed for this Monday morning of Holy Week includes the line "you save humans and animals alike, O Lord." I am overwhelmed by the views out my windows, the 1850 window in a federal style house, and the window in a magazine. After praying and sitting in the quiet, I am compelled to focus my eyes on these views and others besides: to see the horror and the beauty, that I might all the more look to God, and God alone, who can bring well-being to creation that groans in travail, and salvation and peace to all God's beloved children.

MJB