It’s been on my heart to share the divine moments that quiet my thoughts, and leave me speechless. I think it’s human nature to desire understanding, and knowledge for the things sparking around us, but I’m starting to believe that the most brilliant seconds of life are the ones that steal our explanations. So here I have a short collection of stories that I experienced, but then left to be just as they are. I pray they invite you into stillness and genuine appreciation of your own pieces of shimmering glory.
“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Luke 2:19
The Little Ballerina
There was a little girl with black tight curls dancing lively across the dusty barn floor. Her eyes, which were a rich earthy brown color, rapidly fluttered around, following the movements of her bare tattered feet. The dirt, and rust of the room unevenly paired with her performance. In a very mundane sort of extravagance, her unsung glory had me convinced she was a prima ballerina.
She noticed me suddenly, and warmly extended her little black hands to mine. Grasping my fingers high above her head, she twirled for what seemed like eternity, and I hummed the tune of “Für Elise”. How was she not getting dizzy after many minutes of continuous circles? She was certainly a professional.
The barn swallows overhead began peaking out from between the wood roof panels, and joined in her dance with their gliding flight. I wondered at the divinity of this little girls life, and my own intersecting. She seemed to follow my thoughts, and raised her head to look into my questioning eyes. Every golden second of life’s simple beauty was treasured within her soul. She treasured me.
On cue, I offered my hand again, and the little ballerina raced me across the old barn floor, spinning to the sound of her heart’s deepest song.
Foot Washing
The ocean’s mist washed onto my face, as I stood along the shoreline of the moonlit beach. God tenderly whispered in my ear, “May I wash your feet?”
At His request, I extended my toes into the water, and allowed his love and grace to lap up around my ankles. Wave after wave crashed onto me, while I pictured the Lord stooped down, washing and scrubbing at my dirty feet, where eczema blisters and warts grew. How could it be that a King, would want to touch the ugliest part of me? There was no sensible explanation, but the cool sand between my toes, and white water bubbling spoke of a mystery so sweet.
With my team, I walked the dark winding path back to our home, and we laid to rest in our beds that night with much lighter souls.
The next morning, I woke up to God’s voice, “Jen, look at your feet.”
I quickly pulled them up to see, and just stared for a while, rubbing my fingers across the spots that used to be covered in warts, and little blisters. In the place of my stubborn dermatitis was completely smoothened new skin. No warts. No blisters. My feet were washed. My feet were healed.
Even as I’m sitting here writing this, every five minutes or so I have to reach down and look at my feet again.
Behind the Waterfall
It’s incredibly difficult to see, with water continuously splashing into my eyes, and pouring over my mangled curls. All around me, the weight of a heavy raging waterfall rushes. One miss step on the slippery rocks beneath my foot, and I could easily hit my head and be taken under. Yet, every second I’m tempted to move away from this hollow wall, something deep within me begs I stay.
Is this what the throne room of heaven feels like?
I’m on the brink of losing my breath entirely, while my knees grow weak in utter awe. My chest throbs. My ears ache. My hands tremble. My mind stops. Heaven’s drum beats on.
When I do finely emerge from behind the waterfall, and pass between the raging breakers into the clear bright day, I inhale clarity in a way I never have before. This day, I’m lost to His glory, and majesty that the earth sings of in relentless adoration.
I watch the waterfall for a while longer, cascading over the rocks into the still deep pool below. Just before I turn to look away, an iridescent rainbow arches across the gorge.
Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. – Psalm 42:7
