Emerging Courageous Online Magazine - Stories
"The Promise" By Bob
Perks
It was like looking at a painting
hanging on my wall. A still life yet, very much alive.
I've seen this same picture a hundred times before, but today at that very
moment, it grabbed my heart and said, "Even when it appears to be
lifeless and lost, your dream is made of miracles waiting to be born. It
is the promise."
I was looking out my window at a very cold, bleak winter scene. I
believe I was longing for something more in my life. Perhaps something
as simple as hope. The kind of hope only spring can deliver.
"It looks so dead out there," I thought.
"Can't you see the miracle beneath it all?" echoed from somewhere in
the back of my mind.
Black, white, shades of grey and brown don't look much like miracles to me.
I saw my life in the frozen branches of the small bushes I planted last
summer. They blossomed once and then gave in to the power of winter's
deadly grip.
I had given in to the coldness of negativity this day.
The snow covered pond once flowed freely over the rocks offering the soothing
sounds of a waterfall. Now sadly still and quiet, it too appeared
lifeless.
The bird feeders had no takers. The corn and seed lay snow covered in
the squirrel feeder, too.
"Where is hope in death? Where is life in stillness?" I asked.
"You'll find hope in the promise made," the voice responded from
within.
"What promise?" I asked.
"Life beyond death. Miracles unseen beneath the stagnant shell of
your life. Life within the living water frozen in place for now, that
one day soon will be set free. Life waiting to begin again deep within
the roots of all living things. Life within the seed created by God for those that
need nourishment."
I stood quietly looking for proof. "I am only human and need to see
before I believe," I said.
"Then it is not hope you need, but faith. Faith requires that you
first believe, then you will see."
"Then what is hope?"
I was quickly reminded of my own words I have often shared with
others...
"Hope is a thing with wings that lifts you high enough to see
the truth."
Just then one small bird flew in and landed on the feeder. The once
still life now was very much alive.
"Is that the promise?"
"The promise made is that life goes on. The promise kept is
spring."
Have faith, my friend and you'll find hope in the promise, too.