Lift the World's Heart Today

Written on October 24, 2016:

I pick up signals here and there of a certain darkness people feel about the world around them.  A shroud of discouragement about the way the world is going, and America is going.  Not necessarily about the way their personal lives are going.

They skirt around the darkness issue because it is vaguely political.  It comes from news of war, and refugees being thrown out of wayside camps in France, and, of political talk in our own land that is negative, insulting, and threatening.  They are wounded by that and don't know what quite to make of it.

On the other hand, today is a stunning day of beauty.  Autumn in these late October days, is golden.  Small maples still have many of their scarlet leaves hanging on their branches, and afternoon sunlight is shining under and through them, and turning ordinary color into radiance.

Other trees boast golden yellow in their oaken way.  And hugging the roadsides, sumac's red has turned to deep russet, dark and rich.

These all, with blue skies above, say "Stop folks, look at what I have for you!  God has given me gold to show you.  Rich carpets of color - not to weigh you down, but to lift your spirit, to help you rise, and your soul to sing, and your heart to remember that you are still alive.  You still can see the wonder, and still be wise enough to remember from whose hand came all the beauty, with this message: Cheer up, children of mine. You are alive.  Be glad.  Live.  Sing. Talk to friends - and strangers.  Say words of life and faith, and encouragement.  LIFT THE WORLD'S HEART TODAY!"
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