What a Wonder a Walk Can Be . . . When Only We Open Our Eyes and Look Up!

Ordinarily on Thursday's my lunch hour is spent with faculty colleagues, but this week's midterm exams prompted the cancellation of our regular departmental meeting.  I was delighted, then, to receive an invitation to join two of my best students for a relaxing lunch on the patio of the campus restaurant.  We sat outside to enjoy the sunshine and the increasingly warmer temperatures that have finally started to make their way to the eastern coast of Korea -- a bit later this spring than usual, I am told.

As our lunch progressed, though, the wind started to pick-up and even blew some exam review papers from the books on our table.  I had to make a quick dash to dab them before another gust took them over the wall and into the woods.  It also started to get a bit darker as some clouds rolled-in.  Today's forecast is calling for rain tomorrow, but it appeared now to be on its way to making an earlier arrival.

Following lunch, one of my students accompanied me on a walk back across campus.  We continued the conversation from our time around the table as we walked.  Then, all of a sudden, she stopped and said, "Professor, look up!"  As I did, I saw what can only be described as a broad brush stroke of blazing color across the clouds.  It wasn't a rainbow.  Yet, the full spectrum of light, from violet through every hue to red, was flowing over the clouds that had gathered above.

We were both stopped flat-footed, awestruck.  It was as if the Aurora Borealis were dancing in the midday sky.  As we stood gazing into the heavens, a few other students came walking by.  Some passed by without a pause, but a few wondered what we were looking at.  As they turned and looked-up, their mouths dropped open.  What a sight!  And, it didn't disappear in a few moments.  It lingered as the clouds moved slowly across the sky.  This "floating rainbow" stretched out its waves of brilliance.

Had I stayed in my office today and done what I ordinarily do -- focused my view on what is below -- the demands of the day -- I would have entirely missed the beauty that was shining above.  I'm thankful I was invited to take a walk.  I'm thankful I was urged to open my eyes and look-up!

In one of his most precious songs, Michael Card sings to his children and tells them of his prayers -- a father's longing for his children to see increasingly the wonder of life that will bring the sunrise of their smile.

Now close your eyes so you can see,
Your own unfinished memories,
Now open them, for time is brief,
And you'll be blest beyond belief,

Now glance above you at the sky,
There's beauty there to blind the eye,
I ask all this then wait awhile,
To see the dawning of your smile.

Looking ahead to Easter morning's sunrise, may I always be reminded to glance above me at the sky!

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.   ~ Colossians 3:14