The 7th of August. Here in Naivasha the shops are open, carpenters plane new bed headboards by the road, families cluster at the hospital gates, nurses change burn dressings, cleaners push mud off the sidewalks from a cataclysmic downpour last night, boda drivers buzz too fast down the paved roads. There is a somber undertone of expectation and uncertainty. But no one looks particularly bent upon evil. The campaigning is at last, mercifully, over, and now it is just a matter of waiting for the polls to open tomorrow morning.
My pediatrician colleague and I did the work of our usual intern team of 8 today . . thankfully not too many patients. Scott was similarly lonely but plowing on. Except for government workers laying low and traffic being light, the day progressed normally with calculations and examinations and putting in lines.
And if one only sees the surface of the ordinary, tomorrow's election can seem more momentous and dangerous than it should. Which is why the Transfiguration Day in the church calendar arrives at an auspicious moment, trailing the shimmer of Daniel 7, Psalm 97, and Luke 9 . . "His throne was fiery flames . . a thousand thousand served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him . . to him was given dominion and glory and kingship . . that shall never be destroyed . . the earth trembled . . mountains melt like wax . . light has sprung up for the righteous . . and while he was praying the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white . . and they were terrified as they entered the cloud . . "
No matter what happens tomorrow, the reality behind the surface of this world remains the same. God reigns.
We see the squabbles and the poverty. We see the crumbling pavement and hear the complaints of striking workers. We read the news, the accusations, the missing funds, the political murder. But today we remember that this is not the full story. There are also moments of transfiguring glory when the Newborn Unit mothers gather to sing praise songs, and one is bathing a baby who was abandoned, shining selflessness. When people find a reason to laugh in spite of not being sure of their safety tomorrow. When we pray with believers who love their country. Because behind this whole sorry beautiful mess is a true weight of glory that would burn our eyes out if we could truly perceive that dimension.
In Job, and elsewhere, when God wants to remind us that we don't get the whole view, that we are underestimating eternal power and love, we are told to look at the created world. So let's close this last pre-election post with some of Scott's photos from walks to the lake that defines our town, and remember that love and beauty and strength will carry the day.
My pediatrician colleague and I did the work of our usual intern team of 8 today . . thankfully not too many patients. Scott was similarly lonely but plowing on. Except for government workers laying low and traffic being light, the day progressed normally with calculations and examinations and putting in lines.
And if one only sees the surface of the ordinary, tomorrow's election can seem more momentous and dangerous than it should. Which is why the Transfiguration Day in the church calendar arrives at an auspicious moment, trailing the shimmer of Daniel 7, Psalm 97, and Luke 9 . . "His throne was fiery flames . . a thousand thousand served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him . . to him was given dominion and glory and kingship . . that shall never be destroyed . . the earth trembled . . mountains melt like wax . . light has sprung up for the righteous . . and while he was praying the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white . . and they were terrified as they entered the cloud . . "
No matter what happens tomorrow, the reality behind the surface of this world remains the same. God reigns.
We see the squabbles and the poverty. We see the crumbling pavement and hear the complaints of striking workers. We read the news, the accusations, the missing funds, the political murder. But today we remember that this is not the full story. There are also moments of transfiguring glory when the Newborn Unit mothers gather to sing praise songs, and one is bathing a baby who was abandoned, shining selflessness. When people find a reason to laugh in spite of not being sure of their safety tomorrow. When we pray with believers who love their country. Because behind this whole sorry beautiful mess is a true weight of glory that would burn our eyes out if we could truly perceive that dimension.
In Job, and elsewhere, when God wants to remind us that we don't get the whole view, that we are underestimating eternal power and love, we are told to look at the created world. So let's close this last pre-election post with some of Scott's photos from walks to the lake that defines our town, and remember that love and beauty and strength will carry the day.
2 comments:
Isn't it wonderful to know that there is more, so much more to this life. Your post is beautiful! I am praying fervently for you all!
Good word. Love will carry the day!
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