On any given evening the clouds over Swaziland will wrap themselves as a blanket over the towering peaks of green. The scene will soften even the most stoic of men. For these mountains contain enough beauty to fill a thousand rolls of film having never revealed their whole. As the sun bids farewell to the day, it will burst through the clouds in a glorious display of light and shadow before fully relinquishing its hold to moonlight. Small rays can be seen in their fullness illuminating the places in which they descend. Charmane, the woman who started the orphanage here, explained, “…we call the rays, the “Glory of God,” as he comes down and loves on the land. It really is something to see.”
Days later, I grabbed the new guitar that I purchased and snuck off to a big rock to enjoy the scenery. I was singing my favorite songs when Jesus spoke to me and said, “Sing to me.” So I began to sing, “Turn your eyes on Jesus, look full in his wonderful face.” I felt that He had just sat down next to me, and as I looked up there were 3 little boys hiding behind some rocks near by, listening to me. So I sang some more, the whole time realizing that the presence of God was with me. It was a wonderful moment.
Upon returning a good friend on the squad ran up to me and said, “I took some crazy pictures of you while you were playing.” I looked through the camera and sure enough, bursting through the clouds was the “Glory of God.” It formed a 3 foot circle. Inside of that 3 foot circles…was me, shining bright like the sun. The only thing around that was illuminated. I knew I felt him sit down with me.
There are some moments that seem too strange to be real, some moments that seem too good to be true, some things that defy our explanation. This picture is one of those for me. If ever I believed, it is now. Every time I look at this picture I think, “but God.”
I once was lost,
Matt
