When I was a boy, I spent a summer living in Jamaica, where I had the privilege once of swimming at the pool adjacent to the famous Trident Castle, near Port Antonio. The pool is situated between a beautiful castle -- a luxurious hotel and legendary Jamaican landmark -- and cliffs at the edge of the sea. The view either way is spectacular. On the day my family and I took a swim there, we noticed clouds on the horizon. Tropical storm clouds are often punctuated with rays of sunshine, and as we watched from the comfort of the cliffside pool, we saw bands of rain passing over the sea, and along with whitecaps in the water, glimmering blue fields of shiny white diamonds sparkling in the sun's rays. From our vantage point, we could see both sun and rain. It was breathtaking, and reassuring to see the sun above the clouds. It was a moment that I will never forget.
Have you ever seen the rain falling in the sunshine? That is the perfect moment to witness a rainbow, the sign of God's promise of faithfulness to us. It is also a wonderful reminder of how the rain may fall into our lives, but the Son of God is shining above whatever dark clouds may be passing by.
Joseph Hall, Occasional Meditations, p. 21:
16. Of the Sight of a Rain, in the Sunshine.
Such is my best condition in this life. If the sun of God's countenance shine upon me, I may well be content to be wet with some rain of affliction. How oft have I seen the heaven overcast with clouds and tempest; no sun appearing to comfort me! yet even those gloomy and stormy seasons have I rid out patiently, only with the help of the common light of the day: at last, those beams have broken forth happily, and cheered my soul. It is well for my ordinary state, if, through the mists of mine own dulness and Satan's temptations, I can descry some glimpse of heavenly comfort: let me never hope, while I am in this vale, to see the clear face of that sun, without a shower. Such happiness is reserved for above: that upper region of glory is free from these doubtful and miserable vicissitudes.
There, O God, we shall see as we are seen. Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
What a wonderful quote. And this: "we saw bands of rain passing over the sea, and along with whitecaps in the water, glimmering blue fields of shiny white diamonds sparkling in the sun's rays." is beautiful imagery.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Heidi. I think you are one of the best at word pictures so I appreciate the compliment especially from you.
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