Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven. - Isaiah 7:11
What if a daffodil is more than a daffodil? What if a drenching spring rain is not just a meteorological event? What if that chance meeting in the grocery store with your long-lost dear friend from elementary school was not just a coincidence? What if these seemingly random and isolated events are signs? What if they, somehow, point to a bigger picture of what's going on?
OK, OK. It's easy to trip over this idea and fall in a puddle of woo-woo. 'Tis a slippery slope from seeing signs - to hearing voices in your head - to channeling Kubla Khan. But, even the most unimaginative bozo can see that budding trees are a sign of spring. Or migrating birds. Or couples kissing in the park. And these are good signs. Very good signs. Even a bland and uninspired couch spud can see that acts of kindness or folks building Habitat houses or lovers walking hand-in-hand are good signs. Very good signs.
Despite all the crap we hear daily from CNN or Fox or political debates or misguided preachers, there are good signs everywhere. And not just a few. There are bounteous good signs which appear moment by moment. You can spot a dozen before breakfast if you pay attention.
And perhaps, one of the most life-enhancing things we can do for ourselves and the world is to notice these things and say to ourselves, "This is a Good Sign." And then live with that awareness. With that assurance. With that faith that God is with us and there is far more going on than we can possibly imagine.
Howard is thrilled that his daughter, Kelsey, has come home to Asheville from the University of Miami Medical School for two months so she can do her clinical residency at Mission Hospital and then graduate in May as a Doctor in Physical Therapy. Howard is planning on many DDDs (Daddy/Daughter Dates) in the coming weeks.