As I drove to work this morning, I did something that I always do - I looked at the sky. This may seem like a simple and meaningless gesture. Yet, for me, there is so much more to it than just a simple glance. Psalm 19:1 tells me, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." So many things in this life are glorious, so long as we take the time to see that glory. I look at the sky and know that glory abounds. There's a soothing and a healing to be found in skies of blue and clouds of white.
If you have never had the chance to visit northern Minnesota, you should definitely go. Most any part of the Land of 10,000 lakes is easy on the eyes, but the best of views is in a canoe with a friend or two. It certainly helps if that canoe is laden with some fishing gear and people you hold near.Don't forget to look at the sky of blue and clouds of white.
Paddling is hard work, but it's not so bad if you happen to find yourself on Birch Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. I've been there and I'm a better person because of my trip. I caught a fish or two or three. I heard a story or two or three. I even got a little upset when my line tangled in the net. Luckily, the beauty of not only the land but a lady calmed me down. After all, I was under the sky of blue and clouds of white.
Yet, the most important thing that I took away from my journey on Birch Lake was this: We all live under the same sky. The sky stretches forever, much like a good friend and a great family are there forever. Sure, the people under the sky may talk differently, act differently, and think differently. Yet, we are all living under the same sky- a sky of blue and clouds of white.
It soothes my soul to know that I have people who care about me under the sky thousands of miles away. From Minnesota to Alabama, from North Carolina to Nepal there's people who live under the same sky that can look up and think about me - in the sky of blue and clouds of white.
It heals my soul to see the sight of two families becoming one -under the sky of blue and clouds of white. Life is full of divisive things, but you won't find a divide in the sky of blue and clouds of white.
No matter the distance, no matter the time, always look up to the sky and think of the people you love who live under the same sky of blue and clouds of white. Let new love for them take flight- into a sky of blue and clouds of white.
A sky of blue and clouds of white - it's beautiful! You betcha! That's right! A sky where love takes flight!
That, my friends, is just a few thoughts from a small town southern man.
