fireworks

They’ve always fascinated me and been overwhelmingly large, spectacular, bright, and colorful.

One of my favorite things growing up was going to firework shows for various celebrations – and after entering adulthood, that hasn’t changed…and with it being the 4th of July…there was no exception to my desire to see fireworks. 

Sometimes the simplest of blessings and delights come in unexpected packages. This evening as I journeyed from Maine to Florida for launch, I had 3/3 window seats…on my second flight I yearned for the sun to go down, and entered the airport disappointed, practically sure I’d be missing fireworks while I was in the airport. Much to my delight and surprise – just after takeoff in Charlotte – the sky was littered with FIREWORKS…they were everywhere, everycolor, poofing, puffing, sparkling, snapping, and fizzling — it was one of the best things I’ve ever seen! Not only did God let me see 1 firework show…I saw hundreds upon hundreds – in neighborhoods, parks, and cities as I soared high above in the air!!!

As I considered this on the plane it hit me again – we were designed to fly – to soar high above what we usually choose to walk or sit on. You see the beautiful thing about flying is that it gives you a broader, more extensive perspective – and it allows you to see more things than you did before, and to see them in a different way. It exposes you to a whole new realm of delight and wonder – not one firework show, but hundreds – not one glimpse of a sunset – but the whole skyline above and below. It’s the same when we consider our relationship with God – and the level of intimacy we choose into and pursue with great abandon. 

Something a mentor of mine (Prez) used to always tell us in our PLC group at college was “higher up, and further in”. This thought always poked at my heart in a unique way, and I find the more I chew on it – the more I recognize the importance of flying over staying grounded, and going deep verses staying on shoreline. Life was breathed into us so we could go deep, breathe deep, and know HIm who is Deep! Needless to say – God blessed me and loved on me during my very long plane journey today – and I’m thankful that even the simplest of ‘likes’ (like fireworks) my Daddy knows!