Surprisingly Beautiful

 

I discovered this unusual scene on a morning following a heavy downpour. The lawns along this street had apparently been mowed just before the rains came. As the fallen rain raced downhill toward the street, it gathered into rivers that raced down the sidewalk. When the rains subsided and the sun rose, what remained were these beautiful green designs the length of the block. The grass clippings washed from the lawns had ridden the waters, then settled wherever they were when the rain drained away. What a serendipity that they painted my way so uniquely.

The grass clippings would have soon dried up and blown away. After all, they were just the leftovers from a hard, hot day of yard work. The rain was a surprise, a deluge that, no doubt, ruined many a plan for the families along the street. But together they created a gift for all who would pass this way.

Sometimes life unfolds in this manner. Two seemingly unrelated things end up together and create something surprisingly beautiful. We move to a new town with great reluctance and discover our best friends and our truest home. Much to our distress, carefully made plans are squelched by forces beyond our control, yet where we end up far surpasses our best laid plans. We meet an individual with very different experiences of life, and one day suddenly realize this one is a true soulmate.

If we remain open to the newness of life each day, we can experience this amazing gift at any moment. Surprising things can pop up around any corner. Each morning holds the possibility that we might awake to find that even the leftover remains of our days and our unexpected storms have come together to create something beautiful. This is the adventure of this life. This is a gift from the God who is ever present with us along the way.

Peace.