So much of life is this repeat. Over and over the same meals. Same routines. Same dialogues. Same challenges.
And it can be hard to view it as holy — the everyday mundane moments trickling on past. Then, of course, there are the one-timers that you long desperately to see again. The bouquet in hand, looking straight into his eyes, promising that pledge. Or the dimpled hands of a newborn, the adorable alien look of the 6-week-old, the grin when baby teeth first filled.
You don’t either want to forget the time you walked along the beach with her, and she heard your heart, and you knew you were loved.
One night, I stood on a roof praying for our city with a group of friends. We were bowing heads and praying for God to heal this city, hold this city, and it was then that the flares crossed the sky, arcs of light.
The lines of fluorescent green, the massive sparks of magenta, all those colors. I looked around at the others, heads low, and I wanted so badly to see it again, to show them this manifestation of the unknowable.
That glory color streaking across black.
And here I sit now writing about it, and the flares are crossing my sky again, and maybe you can see it too.
Life is the green and magenta among the ever flowing moments that seem sometimes just like the one before.
Do we tilt heads back in the mist of a roaring waterfall and tire of its beauty? As the same-looking water flows past, do we ask, more water, really? No, it’s the constant. The again and again trickle to thunderous roar that makes it so glorious.
And maybe it’s in knowing magenta and green may just flare across my daily sky that helps me keep showing up.
Because miracles — the one-timers, the everyday — they don’t stop coming, and you never really know what kind you’re in for.
It is Friday, and so I’m joining up with the Five Minute Friday community of friends over at Lisa-Jo‘s. Man, I never know what’s going to come out through these little exercises in free-flowing words. We’d love to have you join in the scary, exhilarating fun. Today began with the prompt: AGAIN.
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
Holy, holy, holy…
Ashley,this is gorgeous. Your word crafting is glorious. That is why I keep coming back here. Again and again….
Wow, Holly. Thank you so much. I feel the same way when I visit the places your words live. So grateful to have been able to connect with you, deep feeler and thinker and maker of beautiful words.
It is my Athenian birthright to not much enjoy the mundane, the normative, the everyday. Acts: 17: 21 “All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.”
But, is life not so much more lived there? And does not the miraculous and wondrous reside within the folds of such as well?
Beautiful post, Ashley!
Your Athenian birthright! That’s so great, Kim. And this: “does not the miraculous and wondrous reside within the folds of such as well?” So we are able to enjoy the mundane while examining it, “talking about and listening to the latest ideas,” looking for the unexpected in the folds. I love this picture.
Beautiful.
Thank you!
Wow, I love how you said “Life is the green and magenta among the ever flowing moments”. That is such a perfect description. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your words to me, Kara. I so appreciate your presence here.
I think I’m going to look for my “magenta and green” in today. Thank you!
Yes! And I’d love to know what you find!
Again?! Another 5 Minute Friday? Another burst of apple green and magenta flame across my dull grey morning sky? What, Again?! Yes! Thank God! Again! :)
Thank you, Mama, for your loving, encouraging words yet again!
beautifully written! you painted that sky so vividly, it must have been such an amazing experience. and how awesome that God’s faithfulness renews again and again, constant and ever present.
It was such an amazing experience, Leah — one my husband and I will never forget. You are so right — what an everyday miracle, this faithfulness that is new every morning. Thank you so much for your presence here.
Hi Ashley,
Its nice making your blog acquaintance.
I love your words: the heart and poetry and truth that come out. I get the sense that you and I have a lot in common. “Green and magenta”… you have given me something to munch on, that The Spirit can fine tune in my own ordinary life. I love when bloggers do that.
Cheers,
Leah
So nice to “meet” you, too, Leah. Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. My goodness, how many times a week have I had the same experience you describe! Many blessings to you.
Hi Ashley
When we slow down in life a bit and look around us, we will see the burning bushes all around us burning with the glory of our Pappa. What an interesting photo!
Much love
Mia
Yes, Mia – burning bushes everywhere! That photo was actually from one of my forrays into collage – that was the orange one. Kind of burning bush like. :)
Ashley, you delight and surprise all my senses. And yes yes and amen..this is what keeps us walking ever forward into the mysteries with an expectant heart for all He has for us. Expecting the unexpected. Knowing He longs to delight us with his wonders and mysteries and all of creation sings….glory.
Expectant heart…expecting the unexpected..knowing he longs to delight us with his wonders and mysteries. Thank you, friend. What a perfect summary for the cry of my heart.
Wow, what a wonderful description of life. So often we focus on the day to day routine and forget to pay attention to those little moments which mean so much. Thank you for reminding us to look up. :)
Thank you for your words, Melissa. Yes, that day to day routine can nearly threaten to swallow us up, it seems. I need frequent reminders to look up myself. Was so good for me here to remember the days I looked up and saw the skies move.
Do you read Oswald Chambers? He wrote “this morning” about expecting God to show up, not expecting Him in a certain way, but just expecting Him. You’r post reminds me of that (again!). So I’m looking. Thank you, Ashley.
I have read Chambers before, but no, I didn’t read him today. I love when God does that for me — gives me places of echo throughout my day. In particular for me right now, that idea of expectancy seems to change much of the fear/anxiety I have about the everyday and the tomorrow. Looking with you, Tresta.
Each day is totally new, there may be repetition and boredom that fills it. Your day,however, allows you to express love to the ones that matter most, may encourage you to mend hurt feelings, face a new challenge head-on. A new tomorrow is there for you to orchestrate. Have an apple green and magenta day!
Yes, the opportunities every day are new, too, Papa. Great point. And a green and magenta day to you, too!
My favorite write this week. Lovely Ashley, You are a rockstar poet! I’ve read it three times already. Just love it all.
Alia, your loving, building-up words just don’t stop. Thank you so much for sharing my words, too. That means so much. Hmmm…Rockstar Poet — that would be a pretty sweet title to put on a business card, don’t ya think? :)
This open eyed anticipation for the next miracle….making all in between moments holy. Thanks for this!
Allison, what a great way to put it: “open eyed anticipation…making all in between moments holy.” I love that!
This is gorgeous… just simply gorgeous. “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers – the moon and the stars you have set in place… ” (Psalm 8) – thank you for the reminder – may my eyes be open to his miracles.
Thank you, Tonya, so much for joining me and for your reminder of Psalm 8. When I consider “the work of [God’s] fingers” and all that he’s “set in place,” it does put my current challenges in perspective. Wow, what a God. I appreciate your presence here!
Yes! To all of it… and this: “And maybe it’s in knowing magenta and green may just flare across my daily sky that helps me keep showing up.” This – I needed today!
Thanks, Karrilee! I keep needing this myself!
Wow! Just, wow! This is beautiful. I want to see the everyday rush coming at me as the miracle it is.
Thank you, Amy. The everyday rush as miracle…I so want to see this too!
Beautiful!
Thank you, Elizabeth.
OH. Glory. This is phenomenal: “Do we tilt heads back in the mist of a roaring waterfall and tire of its beauty? As the same-looking water flows past, do we ask, more water, really? No, it’s the constant. The again and again trickle to thunderous roar that makes it so glorious.” Thank you for this beauty.
Thank you, dear Amber.
I may have told you.. but I just adore coming here. Your writing is 5 minutes of peace and tranquility in my day. I hope you write a book one day.. I’d be the first to pick up a copy.. or a day book with your words at the start of each day:) xx
Oh, Smidge! What a huge compliment that you’d want to spend these minutes with me each day. I am always grateful for your presence here. And your bloggy place is such a picture of sweet, timeless, love-filled beauty. Thank you!
this speaks to me as i lately have felt like i was just “enduring” this winter time. this flu season. this school routine drop off/pick up. thank you because i have realized that i LIVE for these moments when God blows my socks off! it what makes life so grand! i love you ash and your words straight from the heart. thanks for writing. thanks for getting up early and letting God use this creativity in you for HIS glory. oh..big hug to my buddy!!!!