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10 Minutes Peace

    by Susan McGrath

Just a Glimpse
Date Posted: February 11, 2006

A spreading of fiery orange, tinged with pink through the deep indigo; sometimes bursts of fuchsia with violet streaks; when the air is right, a warm glow like a child's cheeks rouged by the winter breeze.

This is the glimpse out of my bathroom window as I meet the day. I must admit that I only get this incredible view during the winter months when the sun sleeps later than I, but what a show!

Last summer while vacationing in Colorado I got up around four in the morning to take a twisting drive up into the mountains with my die-hard, hiker-boy brothers and watched the sun rise over the next range and kiss the valley and river below with heavenly light.

It was worth the loss of sleep and I have some beautiful photographs, but that same sun rises on the prairie every day and many of the windows in my house face east. Why was it such a big deal to view it from the mountaintop?

I don't think it was. That is, I don't think the location was what made it so magnificent. It was the anticipation, the out of the ordinary possibility. Those gorgeous tints of red, pink and purple are just as beautiful in Illinois. In fact, they may be more spectacular because the lower altitude and humidity blur and swirl the colors. A bit more Renoir.

Though most mornings I peek out the window several times to see the colors emerge, I believe this is just a glimpse of what heaven will be like. God has given us great beauty here on earth, but heaven will be beyond imagining.

The visual part will only be one aspect. We will be in the presence of God, the creator of color and all else.

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed way." -- Revelation 21:1-4

Try getting up to see a sunrise this week, or peeking out the window as you rise early to care for your family. Thank God for his color palette and for the new one which awaits us someday.

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Biography Information:
Susan McGrath is:

a recovering journalist trying to encourage others and glorify God through writing;

living the small-town life with husband Tim and sons Lincoln, 12, and Sawyer, 6;

completing a few put-off writing projects while using chocolate for therapy.
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