I was awed.
In my awe, I found my heart turning in worship to God. Thank you, Lord! The beauty of the rainbow brought thanksgiving. As I was thanking Him for His Promises, I was instantly struck with the fact that all those around me, those walking with me on the road, were missing it entirely. A gorgeous, full-spectrum rainbow was just over our heads and they took no notice, as far as I could see. Did they see it?
And then the thought came to me, a slight whisper into my mind... It has become common place, Stephanie.
Currently, we live in a place where it rains a lot. This means, of course, that we have lush green and flowers and frequent rainbows! Frequent rainbows---imagine that! I grew up in a city where rain, lush green, and flowers were scarce... and rainbows---well, I don't think I saw but one in the whole of my childhood. So, I am still awe-struck when I see a rainbow. I still feel a childish sense of jubilee and I eagerly go looking for them when it rains on a sunny day!
It has become common place... the words swam around in my head. A rainbow. ...common place? How can that be?? The Promises of God... common place.
And, then it dawned on me, My promises have become common-place here, too.
Here in this lovely place where I live, God's promises and His Word were once primary and central. God Almighty once awed the people of this nation. God's Truth once penetrated hearts and changed lives. But, now they are no longer core to my neighbors and my friends. They are indeed just common, ordinary, and easy-to-walk-by... All too common.
Jesus loves you... "yeah.. yeah... whatever... I know... I have heard it all before!"
Familiarity breeds contempt, we have heard it said.
The promises of God's Presence. His salvation. His death on the cross. His resurrection. Here all these are as commonly "known" as the rainbows, the flowers and the rain. And, most people just walk right by them---and ignore them. They miss them entirely.
These beautiful, deep, life-changing Truths go without notice... without awe... without any emotional or life-impact. What a tragedy!
And I wonder even as I write this... Stephanie, what Truths, ...what Reality... has become common place to you?
Father, may the Truths of You, the Reality of who You are and what You have done for me... may they awe me again today! Father make these Truths of Your Word take my breath away and bring deep thanksgiving in my heart. May grace and mercy and love and holiness never become common place to me.
