The Findings

I’m bewildered. I’ve straggled through this frightening past week that took right up on the heels of Covid 19 with its controversial masks and shelter in place and “keep your distance.” My beloved country is blazing. Rumors. Muttered tales of espionage. Booted foot on neck. Sirens. Palpable fear.

. . . .On Saturday night–five miles or so from where I tuck myself in bed at night–vandals burned the sleepy little place of La Mesa. Looted. Blazed down Chase bank and another bank and stately old buildings. Sunday after church–first time back in our beloved sanctuary–I climbed in the little car with Chloe and Ella and we went to the site of the plunder. Andrew was already there. Taking pictures. Talking to people.

Walked. Gawked. Smoke. Smoldering. Young people with brooms. Old people with brooms and trash bags and plywood now. Boarding up. We joined with another group and sang Amazing Grace . . .and God Bless America . . .and sadly I noted few seemed to know all the words . . .to God bless . .

I was aghast

Monday

“I’m going for a little walk,” I called into Andrew’s house. “Not taking Winston with me.”

. . .and this is what I found.

“For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will make the wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.”

Isaiah 51:3

I found this last Monday . . .that trouble-filled day as I trudged through a few blocks in my city–the city of San Diego, CA. Within a simple neighborhood of modest homes and scraggly gardens and patches of weeds I found these astounding treasures . . .and I was reminded and soothed. God is in control. His beauty is not flawed. His strength is not diminished. His Word is sure.