Portrait of an Old Friend
It's my favorite night of the year: shooting star night. Truth be told, no one in my family feels the same about this event as freakishly as I do. No one quite gets an equal thrill of the long, slow streak of light. It's just something special between Jesus and me. Technically speaking, it's the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, which has been happening the second week of August for hundreds of years. But to this mama's heart, it's an end-of-summer tradition that signals the changing of seasons--back-to-school, cooler weather, and lots of birthdays. It's also a very special reunion of sorts for me and an old friend.
Last year, the changing season was particularly emotional as shooting star night happened while resting on our backyard trampoline in suburbia USA. Our house had sold, we were knee-deep in packing, and in a matter of weeks, we would haul our family of 8 plus 2 dogs to begin our new life in a new land. My good 'ole buddy Orion brought comfort and peace that night. It turns out, he has been signaling the changing of seasons since the time of Job--and bringing reminders of God's great and unsearchable wonders. You can read about it here: http://beehnfamily.blogspot.com/2016/08/orion-is-rising.html
I was especially excited to watch the meteor shower this year because the skies are brilliant in Haiti. No light pollution = millions of shimmering stars = Katie in total geek mode. So, around 4:30 this morning, I took my blankie and my camera and Hillsong on Spotify and went expectantly out my door to the roof of JoyHouse. The skies had cleared from an earlier storm, and the air was cool. Dogs barked, roosters crowed, trash burned. As I turned toward the east, there he was. My old friend. This time, I snapped his picture to remember our meeting.
Oh my soul! A year's worth of memories flooded my heart and I couldn't help but worship the majesty of our Creator. Majesty! Praises and Glory! May we never lose the wonder!
Looking back on that night, a year ago on the trampoline in Arkansas, full of expectation and fear and trust and sorrow, thinking about the Ancient of Days, the Author of my life, and the One who holds the future... gracious, I had no idea what was about to happen to our family. I had no idea how much the Lord would humble us, encourage us, discipline us, grow us, provide for us, and refine the vision. I had no idea the depth of sorrow and the thrill of joy that was to come. I had no idea about the conflict that would wreck me, the passion that would fill me, the desperation that would paralyze me, and the determination that would eventually drive me. I also had no idea about the rats that would torment me, but that's another story.
That's the thing. Tonight I sit thousands of miles away from the place I sat a year ago--geographically, yes, but also emotionally, spiritually and in a thousand more ways I can't begin to put into words...Though I'm not where I was or who I was a year ago, the view is still the same: turning towards the east, still settled on his side in the sky is God's man, Orion. He has been showing up for millennia, precisely according to the Maker's grand design. My perspective and my geographical location may have changed...but God's vision has not. Just as He set in motion the dance of the planets, sun, moon, and stars with one touch of His finger at Creation, and they have been faithfully orbiting ever since...so also He planned out the days of our lives long before we took our first breath.
So thanks again, my old friend Orion, for my annual reminder of God's faithfulness in the changing of every season. I still sit here full of expectation and fear, trust and sorrow, and the future doesn't seem completely clear. My vision is forever limited and cloudy. But as I fix my eyes on the beauty of God's creation, my heart sings:
Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
21 He changes times and seasons...
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
Daniel 2:19-22
Last year, the changing season was particularly emotional as shooting star night happened while resting on our backyard trampoline in suburbia USA. Our house had sold, we were knee-deep in packing, and in a matter of weeks, we would haul our family of 8 plus 2 dogs to begin our new life in a new land. My good 'ole buddy Orion brought comfort and peace that night. It turns out, he has been signaling the changing of seasons since the time of Job--and bringing reminders of God's great and unsearchable wonders. You can read about it here: http://beehnfamily.blogspot.com/2016/08/orion-is-rising.html
I was especially excited to watch the meteor shower this year because the skies are brilliant in Haiti. No light pollution = millions of shimmering stars = Katie in total geek mode. So, around 4:30 this morning, I took my blankie and my camera and Hillsong on Spotify and went expectantly out my door to the roof of JoyHouse. The skies had cleared from an earlier storm, and the air was cool. Dogs barked, roosters crowed, trash burned. As I turned toward the east, there he was. My old friend. This time, I snapped his picture to remember our meeting.
Oh my soul! A year's worth of memories flooded my heart and I couldn't help but worship the majesty of our Creator. Majesty! Praises and Glory! May we never lose the wonder!
Looking back on that night, a year ago on the trampoline in Arkansas, full of expectation and fear and trust and sorrow, thinking about the Ancient of Days, the Author of my life, and the One who holds the future... gracious, I had no idea what was about to happen to our family. I had no idea how much the Lord would humble us, encourage us, discipline us, grow us, provide for us, and refine the vision. I had no idea the depth of sorrow and the thrill of joy that was to come. I had no idea about the conflict that would wreck me, the passion that would fill me, the desperation that would paralyze me, and the determination that would eventually drive me. I also had no idea about the rats that would torment me, but that's another story.
That's the thing. Tonight I sit thousands of miles away from the place I sat a year ago--geographically, yes, but also emotionally, spiritually and in a thousand more ways I can't begin to put into words...Though I'm not where I was or who I was a year ago, the view is still the same: turning towards the east, still settled on his side in the sky is God's man, Orion. He has been showing up for millennia, precisely according to the Maker's grand design. My perspective and my geographical location may have changed...but God's vision has not. Just as He set in motion the dance of the planets, sun, moon, and stars with one touch of His finger at Creation, and they have been faithfully orbiting ever since...so also He planned out the days of our lives long before we took our first breath.
So thanks again, my old friend Orion, for my annual reminder of God's faithfulness in the changing of every season. I still sit here full of expectation and fear, trust and sorrow, and the future doesn't seem completely clear. My vision is forever limited and cloudy. But as I fix my eyes on the beauty of God's creation, my heart sings:
Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
21 He changes times and seasons...
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
Daniel 2:19-22
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