Northern Lights

Hey dad,

You asked the question once, “When God rewrites the story of your life, will you see it as His favor?” A few years ago, I would have said, “no”. But, by His grace, my answer has changed. I wish I had the words right now to express all of what has changed. But all I can say for now is that the pain He’s allowed in my life has given me the ability to feel the joy of His blessings even deeper than I could have before. I wish it were possible to feel that joy without the contrasting pain, but we live in a sin-broken world and that’s just not how it works. But I’m thankful I serve a loving God who can use the necessary pain of life to give me a greater appreciation for the beauty of life.

Dad, I saw the northern lights tonight. And if you were still here, I’m sure you would have been standing out in the cold shivering with me, both of us unwilling to go back inside and warm up for fear of missing out on even one second of the overwhelming wonder felt when watching the ballet of light in the night sky. Holy cow was it incredible. We serve a great God. You’re in His presence in a way I can’t even fathom right now, without the need to see the northern lights because you’re with the One who created them. That’s pretty amazing to think about.

I miss you. Thank you for all you taught me. Thank you for being the one to start teaching me that beauty could be found when God re-writes the story of your life. When He lets pain in. Thank you for being the one to start teaching me that beauty can still exist in the midst of that pain. That the joy of that beauty can be felt even more deeply because of the pain God has allowed. Thank you for being the one to start teaching me that everything points back to giving God the glory He deserves.

Thank you for introducing me to my favorite Psalms. Psalms like Psalm 19.

Psalm 19:1-4

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.“

Dad, I saw the northern lights tonight. And it was a dream come true. You would have loved it. Thank you for showing me as a child that the God who created them is the One writing the story of my life. And I know I can trust Him with the pen.