Beauty From Chaos
As you go through life, there are parts of you that break. If you start out healthy as a horse as a kid, it’s not long before you realize that the youngsters have more pizazz than you. If you’re ever a big fish in a fishbowl, it’s not long before a more macho fish comes by. Solomon said it exactly right, “the prime of life is fleeting!” (Ecclesiastes 11:10).
There was a fun study done before the turn of the century where researchers had professional football players following 5-year olds around a playset. The 5-year olds easily out-crawled-climbed and scooched the pros and left them exhausted.
“Why is it when mom is tired, I have to take a nap, “ is the complaint of quite a few kids. I remember well the dismal days when I had to lay down in kindergarten, though I wasn’t the slightest bit tired. I grumped and complained. Now, when the same clear call greets me, I’m down in a happy flash!
Things descend; that’s the way it is in this life, but something important to remember is that we started strong.
As we gain wisdom…and age…we realize more how much God did to make us in our given glory. He had to put every piece together to make us just right. He covered the details. Snazzy eye shutters that close on command. Teeth that look nice fit together perfectly (for some of us!), and do all the right things. Skin that constantly fixes itself and even colors itself to keep it from burning by the sun. Hair that tints itself nicely till the tinters break after half a dozen decades or so. God gave us brains, too, that effortlessly reach through the files of memory to reach any event of millions in colorful detail that are tucked somehow in that mushy mess between our ears. He made possible all these things. This is the God we worship.
How’s everything work? Some things we know; other parts we have no clue about–wonderful mysteries, gifts of our Maker, who is way, way smarter than the whole bunch of us.
The conclusion here? There are forever some areas of our lives that are out of sorts to some degree because of the nature of this life. There always are some harbors of crazy, some islands of chaos–even in the most beautiful seas. Sometimes it’s with us; other times it’s with some we care about. There are always some things we’d love to see grand and wonderful miracles in.
But, the beautiful thing is that it is God who created the beauty in this life, whether it was us when we were younger or the beauty in tropical fish, sea shells, stunning flowers, exotic birds, wonderful experiences– and all the rest. He started with messes and created beauty.
The earth started the same way as well. The earth was formless and void, then the beyond-infinitely-powerful Living God went to work. Inch-by-inch, He manipulated and re-forged every corner of crazy and chaos until it all was very, very good.
This same ever-living God knows your pockets of chaos, the things that sting when you remember them, the tears in His bottle that have never been dealt with. He knows every bit of the obstacles facing you, keeping you from what stirs you to the depths. He even remembers every astonishing detail, even when we forget. All this is a beautiful, beautiful thing.
The Maker still says, “Stand still and see the salvation of God on your behalf.” He still directs, “Be silent and know that I am God.” (2 Chronicles 20:17, Psalms 46:10)
Trust in new measures, the Maker of the little ones…and the puppies, the kittens, and the redwoods. He knows all the details, all the sighs, all the dreams, and all the desires in mind-boggling detail. And He’s a whole lot smarter than all of us on our best day… and a universe stronger.
Work and love and rest well. Faithfulness in little is the doorway to the fantastic. Let there be an anchor of cheerful smiles as you face this new day; “My God who makes stars by speaking really, truly has all of everything in His sight and in His control. He superbly excels at creating beauty and wonder out of chaos-es and my less-than-the-bests. And He has some whoppingly good plans up His sleeve that nothing and no one can hinder or prevent.
Wait for the whooping-ly good. It surely will come.
“For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.” – Habakkuk 2:3
“The earth was formless and void…and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waste and emptiness (Hebrew) of the waters…” – Genesis 1:2
