“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” ~ Psalm 91:1
On a brisk January morning, I looked up to see a flock of swans flying in a V-formation.It’s common to see Canada Geese crossing the sky in a wedge shape, particularly in the autumn, but the sight of these elegant white birds overhead in the winter sky incited a sense of wonder. By virtue of doing what they were created to do, these creatures offered me a glimpse of glory.
Like the marvel of swans in flight, every day is an opportunity to experience a glimpse of heaven. Whether the belly-laugh of a child, a glory-lit sunrise, the smile from a stranger, or the encouraging word from a loved-one, these fleeting moments are not only deposits of beauty, but they also offer a glimpse of the glory that awaits us after our imperfect, holy gift of life.
Although there is much beauty in the ordinary, day-to-day, these momentary wonders are easily missed. Our faces in our phones, our minds distracted, or our body racing from one thing to the next with barely a breath between, these tender reminders of God’s grace risk going unnoticed or unappreciated.
When we pause to breathe in the scent of pine needles beneath our shoes, listen to the bird’s chorus in the dawn of spring, feel the warm summer breeze kiss our skin, or gather in a loved one for a hug, our spirit grows lighter and we awaken to the quiet miracle of living. In glimpsing glory, we experience God through his creation.
Have you ever considered that we too are living, breathing glimpses of glory? “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”(Ephesians 2:10). Made in the image of Christ, we reflect God’s glory by virtue of being alive. Simply by being who he made us to be, we are walking miracles with the capacity to not only absorb but also reflect God’s glory.
Which means each day of our lives becomes an opportunity to do the “good things” he planned for us” and offer a glimpse of glory to others through a kind word, deed, or action. When we soak in the goodness of God, we are more apt to implement these “good things” that may cause others to pause in wonder about the God who made us. In this way, we become the hands that help God’s purposes to unfold on earth.
Although we often think in terms of grand gestures, it’s often the little things that cause us pause. Amid the mundane, one-foot-in-front-the-other actions, we display God’s goodness by faithfully tending to those he has tucked around us.
It’s seen in the way we show up with soup for a sick neighbour, the hours spent sitting by the bedside of an ailing family member, or any number of unseen kindnesses. Each action becomes gentle reminders that this life, and the people in it, are sacred deposits of beauty.
In the seemingly small, insignificant moments of our day, we work out the good things God planned for us which, as it turns out, are the most significant. They offer the opportunity for others to glimpse eternity—to glimpse the Maker of it all.
If God chooses to plaster blazing reminders of his love in the sunsets and in the flight of swans crossing winter skies, so do we—in our humanness—when we reflect his radiant love. This year, may we not only find ways to glimpse glory but also be those who deposit beauty to help bring God’s kingdom to earth.
