Look Up!

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens....

Isaiah 40:26a (NIV)

From the mountain lodge, the kitchen sink lies beneath a picture window where I've washed many a supper dish while soaking in the majesty of a magnificent sunset.

 

Today the scenery was not so sublime. In fact, it was completely drear, although in a momentary respite from just another day of drenching rain.

Then an imposing streak of black and red grabbed my attention and drew my eyes upward.

I squealed for everyone to come and look at the massive woodpecker that came to rest on the tree just outside.

Photo by Dick Daniels, Ash, NC

Though he lingered just a moment, from that point on, my focus was not on the task at hand...the mundane, but rather lifted skyward. I was compelled to look up!

What a sweet reminder of the urging of Isaiah to "Lift [our] eyes and look to the heavens," to the LORD [who is] "the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth." And not to become weighed down by the tasks, mundane or not, that we face day to day, but to rest in the hands of the One who "will not grow tired or weary, [whose] understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:26,28,29)

Creator God, how we stand in awe of all that You have made. Help us to recognize the power exerted in that creation which is available to us yet today. Lord, help us to rest and rely on You...the source of our hope and strength.