spring orchestra

iuj backyard, april 29, 2005

when the going gets tough, "desiderata" has it all to say: "with all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world." (max ehrmann, desiderata, copyright 1952)

the pictures above express it all: it is still a beautiful world. "In His time, God makes all things beautiful."

the pictures were taken yesterday at past 3pm. when others were all nowhere to be found, i was in the middle of nowhere, a lone audience of this once in a lifetime spring orchestra: the mountain provided a natural backdrop, the melting snow served as the platform, the rain was singing, the fog was dancing, and all the trees and sakura were playing their own song. i was taking part of this wonderful moment that would never be shown again. and i was ecstatic. last weekend, i watched two concerts. one in muikamachi where all bands just provided added noise to the already troubled minds of those who attended; the other one was in ojiya where a woman who took a graceful bow sang lullabyes. the two concerts failed in comparison to the spring orchestra i listened to yesterday. it was such a perfect communion with the naturals.

it really was, and is, a beautiful world. how could the God of heaven create such majestic orchestration of things around? how could He be gracious enough to make me a part of it?

"He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
He sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from His storehouses." (psalm 135:7, NIV)

"i think that i shall never see,
a poem lovely as a tree.
a tree whose mouth is prest
against the sweet earth's flowing breast...
poems are made by fools like me,
but only God can make a tree." (tree, joyce kilmer, 1886-1918)

indeed, "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..." (ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV) my time is now, and my place is here. i'm savoring the moment. God is really good.

enjoy the world, it is beautiful outside. we only live once, live it to the full. word of caution though: "do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." (romans 12:2, NIV)