'Outside the Box'

Back in March, in a post which describes my experiences with Snowball, my kitten, I wrote:

By intruding upon the indifference of our given environment He provides special means of nourishment for our hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits, while watchfully caring for and guiding us in ways unknown, though appreciated, to growth.

When those who ought to care do not, when differences seem too complicated to sort out, when ignoring comes easier than effort, from 'outside of the box' can come God's merciful hand to set things right, his own way.


He makes all the difference.

It's been a long time since Snowball was part of my existence, but it is now that I am again witnessing the hand of God, from 'outside the box', intruding into my pain, and setting things right.

Never doubting that he is there, nor doubting that he cares, still his merciful hand at work sucks my breath right out of my lungs. Why am I surprised? Because I don't pay close enough attention?

On a weblog were spilled my vague utterances. On a weblog came special means of nourishment from God, via the comment forum - 'outside the box'. Again, he, this time through cyber-friends, has made all the difference.

When we were flying from Eugene to Seattle the other day, while I had my nose smashed against the airplane window to see all I could of the view, I noticed the sun brilliantly reflected in hundreds of pools of water from small ponds, to creeks and rivers, to large lakes. Gradually as we flew north, as if raising their heads to greet us, the sun brought each of these otherwise ordinary objects into startling view, reflecting itself upon them. Squinting was necessary, so bright were these numerous reflections, and still my eyes teared.

Thinking of Moses with his shining face, I had a weird thought. "If God were to sort of float over the earth, would he see his reflection in us as our hearts, recognizing his voice, would cause our heads to tilt toward him, exposing our faces, like flowers following the sun? Would we reflect his glory back to him, in the same blinding sort of way that these waters, large and small, were reflecting the sun?"

It was a nice thought, comforting somehow.

Then Struggle and Funk happened, which compelled kind, deeply compassionate people to come to my aid, at a moment's notice this week. Like light-reflecting waters, they cast back the truth, clearly pointing my way to me, gently lifting me from despair.

Together they became the hand of God, from 'outside the box'.

He does indeed make all the difference.

My heart bows to yours, dear friends, in deepest respect, and thanksgiving.

"...but God intended it for good...."