Clouds and Shadows

This morning's view

A mantle of melancholy enveloped me as I awoke this morning.  Having enjoyed a powerful and encouraging time of fellowship last night, I was perplexed.  Then I remembered the recurring dreams...

Images of sneaking into our home in Graham, I had the sense that I was searching for something elusive.  I knew I should not be there, but wandered from room to room, desperate to find something.  My presence did not go undetected.  In each dream the resident family (our friends) arrived shortly after I did.  I felt shame and embarrassment...

As I reflect, words from "Tell Your Heart to Beat Again" by Phillips, Craig and Dean come to mind.  Lately I have been listening to this again and again...

Tell your heart to beat again
Close your eyes and breathe it in
Let the shadows fall away
Step into the light of grace
Yesterday's a closing door
You don't live there anymore
Say goodbye to where you've been
And tell your heart to beat again...

Spring is glorious here!  Clusters of wild primroses appear here and there.  There are more tractors than cars on the road these days, and fields which have lain fallow through the winter have  been turned, revealing soil that is rich and brown and ready for the barley soon to be sown.  Wild hares dart about, tempting Magnolia to the chase.  No doubt, LIFE IS GOOD HERE!  When the sun is shining it is frighteningly easy to forget the clouds looming on the horizon in our Homeland.  There are new shadows, new reminders daily however...

My greatest challenge is one of remembering the Light which shines above the clouds, beyond the shadows.  Mine is a DAILY battle to trust Him who is Faithful and True...believing He will lead and guide our children, our family, our brothers and sisters whose lives are in danger of being overshadowed by impending darkness.

So I pray continually, asking the Lord of Hosts to give them an ear to hear the Voice of the Good Shepherd...the voice which says to them, "This is the way, walk in it!"  And I pray they will have the courage to follow, wherever He leads.

"Hope is reaching from a rugged cross
Where a perfect love recaptured all the innocence that's lost
And mercy's calling from an empty grave
So lift your eyes to heaven
And hear your Savior say:

Tell your heart to beat again
Close your eyes and breathe it in
Let the shadows fall away
You'll live to love another day
Yesterday's a closing door
And you don't live there anymore
So say goodbye to where you've been
Tell your heart to beat again..."