Good Day! Here’s to reaching new heights!
“Head in the Clouds”
I find it super intriguing that weather can capture a climb! Check this out!
Photo Courtesy: Royal Photographic Society (@jerryscience)
A droplet of water acts like a tiny convex lens. When light from the environment enters the curved surface of the water, it refracts and forms a miniature inverted image of its opposite side.
Both rain and a climb happened at a recent concert by country singer Morgan Wallen. He took to the stage at Bryant-Denny Stadium at the University of Alabama. My niece went, and enjoyed from the upper deck. That’s 28 flights of stairs!
“Outlook” Morgan Wallen
Life invites us with many steps.
“My brother Tebe at the Summit” (Utah/NV border)
Jordan and I were cleaning out some things the other day and found a Japanese flag. She and her buddies scrounged it up a few years ago. They had a habit of visiting the concierge dump for loot for their HQ. It turns out the flag reads, “Joyful conquest of the summit” or “victorious ascent to the peak”. The peak is Mount Fuji (12, 389 FEET!)
“Yose gaki hinomaru=’gathered writing’”
I discovered that the Mt. Fuji flag is patterned after Japanese good luck flags that were distributed to Japanese soldiers getting ready to deploy for war. Neighbors, family, and friends would sign the flag with messages of encouragement.
“Lofty dreams ascend joy’s pillar.”
I love the essence of the flag’s message. The climber didn’t just reach the top. They conquered it with joy and resolve, and they did it with encouragement!
The cool thing I perceive in the scriptures is that the joy of the Lord is not only our strength but our staircase. In other words, I’m convinced that Jesus is the bridge connecting us with Heaven. We have a continuous interaction through Jesus.
Take the example of when Nathanael meets Jesus for the first time and calls him out as the King of Israel. Jesus says, “I prophesy to you eternal truth: From now on, you all will see an open Heaven and gaze upon the Son of Man like a stairway reaching into the sky with the messengers of God climbing up and down upon Him!” (John 1:51/TPT)
This altogether different climb is one of connection between the Savior and each other. “Go up on a high mountain, you joyful messengers of Zion, and lift up your voices with power. You who proclaim joyous news to Jerusalem, shout it out and don’t be afraid. Say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’”(Isaiah 40:9/TPT)
It’s been my experience that the joy lives in the promise, no matter how tough the steps. Jesus is like the convex lens, for He descended to dry land surrounded by the quenching grace of His Heavenly heart. I’m convinced that His descent assures our ascent.😄
