Rainbows
POSTED BY Kirgy January 4th, 2012 : 2 COMMENTS
[from my diary]
So I’m finally on my way to Kelowna. As I’m writing this I’m thirty-five thousand feet in the air travelling at five hundred and fourteen miles per hour [ground speed], cruising with a little, but some, turbulence, somewhere over the Norwegian Sea near Iceland.
Mother and I had to get up at 5:30am (GMT) to drive to Heathrow to make this flight. To be honest with you, I really didn’t want to go. I’ve had such a great time with Lucy that I just wanted to be with her, not four thousand miles away. Last night I could barely sleep, thinking of it all, and thinking about God and how unprepared I am today.
But at the same time, despite all these worries, fears and even hind-sighted regrets, I know this is where God wants me.
My heart was pounding and my palms sweating as the engines roared the plane up the runway. I don’t know who decided putting fuel, turbines, high speed, high altitude and masses of people together was a good idea.
It was the first turbulence, strangely, which brought me peace. As London flew away from me and the clouds rattled this hunk of metal, a glimmer, for just a few seconds, of a rainbow appeared outside the window next to me.
That’s when all this worrying about life, love and even fear of this rattling death trap become just white noise. I remembered God’s promise to Noah,
Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. (Gen9:16 NIV)
Beyond the cry of the babies and my death-grip on Air Canada’s cramped chairs was this whisper of love, promise and remembrance that I am in covenant with the living God.
As I look out into the sea of cloud through this half closed window, I am in reverence of this God and His unending love for me.
I remembered you Steve as I passed the heights of Scotland; this really is the six-hour bliss. The moment of time where worry is yet to materialise of Canadian immigration or my twenty minutes I have now to change flights.
I remember Lord, when you answered my prayers so clearly that Sunday morning at Hope Church, calling me to your ministry, I remember that first acceptance of you in my life that Sunday evening in the run-down remains of the YMCA building. I do, Lord, also remember sitting in front of my computer, the cursor blinking in the response field of Ian Coffey’s email, when I prayed and you called me to Kelowna.
I have heard you God. I’m sorry for my persistent failures; when I worry without you, when I curse my family and neglect your Church. But I thank you for your everlasting majesty and commitment to every living thing.
Thank you for your rainbow Lord.
Really looking forward to reading your accounts of the block placement. Last year it was Jenny Howard I was sending messages to, when she was completing her Level 3 Block in Canada. It was an incredible, life changing time for her and I hope you have a similar experience. Enjoy, Trust in the Lord and not your own strength and give it your all.
Hi Chris,
Glad you have arrived safe over there in the big white country. I remember flying over that white expanse thinking will this ever end!!
Enjoy yourself over there. These opportunities in life are rare.
Steve