clothes crisis, covenants, and comforters...

After a loud yell of frustration, my sister walked into my room and saw the mountain of clothes, shoes, and books which accumulated in my tirade. Her eyebrow raised, needing explanation as to why it looked like Hurricane Katrina had blown through my room. Look, I'm stressed out, okay? I'm late, I have a very important meeting this afternoon and I have nothing to wear. Nothing! To! Wear! It's a major Clothes Crisis!

She knows my antics and without saying a word, she pulled a teal cardigan from my clothes, grabbed a thin belt to wrap around my waist, changed my jewelry and with that I was ready for work. It was like Bippity Boppity Boo! [Minus the fairy godmother.]

Because I'm an emotional basket-case when I'm stressed, I gave her a hug and let out a squeal. She was not empathetic to my "Clothes Crisis" so she simply tapped my back as I squeezed her and told me I was late for work. Wait, I said. I have to make my bed! Dumbfounded and frustrated, she asked why I was making my bed rather than fighting traffic. Oh that's simple, Alex. A clean, well-made bed is my comfort. When everything is life, work, or my room is a mess, I always have my bed to look to as peace and solidarity. It's my symbol. I looked for the brass band to enter my room as I sang a Cabaret life lesson to my sister. She picked up her coffee and left the room mumbling words under her breath.

But I'm not the only one who needs reminders of peace. In Genesis 9 God reiterated the word covenant seven times in nine scriptures. The biblical word covenant means promise from God. God told Noah he would remember His covenant symbol (a rainbow) was a reminder to all living creatures on earth (9:17). Till this day, I remember God's promise to humanity when I see a rainbow.

When everything in life is chaotic, ugly, depressing, and messy, what do you hold on to? What are your reminders? If we don't have reference points (promises and covenants), we can get lost in the mess and forget the promises God has given us. Hold on to what the psalmist says, The promises of the Lord are pure, like silver refined in a furnace and purified seven times... God's way is perfect! The promise of the Lord has proved to be true. (Psalm 12:6; 18:30)

feeling like a maguey...

Ecclesiates 3:11 He has made all things beautiful in His time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.

While driving through the desert this past Saturday to a conference I was speaking at, I was reminded of an odd plant that thrives in arid regions. It looks like an ugly love-child of a cactus and aloe vera plant. It has a spreading rosette in the center of the plant which grows spiny, grey-green leaves about three inches thick and has a sharp spike at the end of each tip. Each year the plant grows wider, longer, and uglier.

Seriously, the maguey plant is one of the those plants you can walk by and never even notice or care about; it's forgettable and over-looked. But as I studied this plant, I was shocked to learn this plant has a beautiful story of endurance and perseverance. For over 20 years the plant will grow without producing a single flower or fruit. But then, like a great Disney tale, a small shoot grows out of the center of the rosette. And keeps growing. And growing. And growing. In a matter of three days, a stem roughly two feet thick will reach heights of over twenty-five feet! At the very top of the stem is a beautiful cyme of yellow, fragrant flowers.

After years of ugliness, the beauty that was deep within pushes up and stands majestically in dry and barren land.

Years of abuse, molestation, neglect, depression, trials or tragedy are part of the brokenness of man. But in God's perfect time He restores the years of ugliness with vibrant colors, sweet scents, and towering strength. Even when we can't see the full scope of God's work from beginning to end, He will make all things beautiful in His time. Are you blooming? Share your story. Are you feeling like the maguey plant, ugly and overlooked? Share your story. It's about time we rejoice with those who are rejoicing and weep with those who are weeping (Romans 12:15).