Day 8 ~ All Creation Hopes

 

Image from WildIndiana.com

 

We saw glimpses of the Northern Lights at our house tonight. Ribbons of color wrapped the northern sky with green pulsing to red, and then vanishing as fast as they had appeared, leaving us in a state of awe.

 

At first, we thought we were seeing things. The Northern Lights? In Indiana? We googled it and confirmed that our eyes had not deceived us. Apparently, a huge explosion on the sun recently flung a wave of solar particles toward Earth, and that explosion made it possible for us to view the dazzling display for just a short while.

 

Just glimpses. Sometimes that’s all we see of God, of heaven, of HOPE, through His amazing creation. When we see these small snapshots of eternity, it makes us long for home; it stirs our hearts with hope for something more.

 

Scripture says even creation itself hopes for that day when God will set it free:

 

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. Romans 8:19-21

 

Did you catch that? Creation actually longs for the day when it will join us in "glorious freedom from death and decay"! All creation waits in hope. Just like we do.

 

While I wait, I want to enjoy what God has so graciously given. Sunsets, starry nights, brilliant autumn leaves, fluffy clouds dotting a dazzling blue sky… I want to appreciate these glimpses of hope and see them for what they really are. Previews of what’s to come, when God redeems His creation.

 

This is our true hope. Someday we will see with new eyes, and everything will make perfect sense.

 

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Back in Time



I have a confession to make. Sometimes I dream of traveling back in time to an era where life was simpler, material possessions were few, and faith and family were cherished by society. Can you imagine? No internet, no phones, no television... Just a few good books, a roaring fire, and the company of close friends and family.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy my laptop, iPhone, coffee maker, and microwave just as much as the next girl. But sometimes, I just wonder what life must have been like.

This weekend my kids and I, along with some close friends, got a small taste of that simple life at the amazing Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. As we walked through the beautiful covered bridges, we traveled back in time for a minute or two, taking in the same sights, sounds, and smells that travelers did in the 1800s.

West Union Bridge, built in 1876 over Sugar Creek

Along the way to West Union Bridge, we stumbled upon a pioneer cemetery. Some of the stones dated back to Civil War and even pre-Civil War times. The writing was not even readable on many, worn by time and weather. Most likely, some of the men buried here helped build the earliest of the sturdy bridges in this county, proud of their craftsmanship and labor of love. Did they know their bridges would stand the test of time 100 to 150 years later?

Reading the inscriptions on the stones, I imagined what life must have been like for these Indiana pioneers. Some of them were young mothers, some soldiers, others children. They walked or rode in wagons over the bridges in the county, laughing, dreaming, and living the simple life. A poignant reminder to savor each moment, to enjoy the immense blessings of life while it is still ours to live, and to remember that each day is given to us by the One who knows us by name and holds the past, present, and future in His hands.