Friends
Happy Thanksgiving week! What are you thankful for?
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“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Psalm 107:1 – NIV
The sky was a brilliant blue, white puffy clouds dancing along the distant butte. As I stepped down off the running board of our truck, the brisk breeze caught the wide brim of my hiking hat, forcing me to tighten the strap at my chin. My husband Eric came around the rear of the truck and took my hand as we slowly made our way down the embankment.
The terrain quickly leveled off and narrowed up, tightening into a thin ridge line that protruded out into the canyon, like a sidewalk into nothingness. The valley lay like a gray carpet hundreds of feet below, rimmed by the pale gray walls of the sharply-channeled, barren buttes. Golden light filtered through the canyon, highlighting the blues, greens and golds that speckled the ashy-clay walls.
Stepping onto the sandy pseudo-sidewalk, we made our way out to the very end of the ledge. Slowly turning in a 360-degree circle, I stared mesmerized at the rugged beauty all around me. It was absolutely breathtaking, truly a magnificent wonder of nature!
An unbridled “Wow!” Escaped from my lips as I realized that there was nothing higher than me for miles and miles. I was standing level with the horizon, almost one with the sky. All I could think was “I’m on the top of the world!”
And that’s when it hit me, the well-aged tune flowing out from the deep recesses of my mind. It was a song from my youth, a song by Karen Carpenter released in the 70s and played over and over on my turntable as I sat cross-legged on the floor of my teenage bedroom. With not even a hint of conscious thought, the lyrics magically appeared in my head, “I’m on the top of the world, looking down on creation, and the only explanation I can find, is the love that I’ve found ever since you’ve been around. Your love’s put me at the top of the world.”*
I stood there scanning the scene before me, Karen Carpenter’s deep, rich voice playing in my head. My face broke out in a huge smile as I pondered her words, words so perfect for the pristine beauty enveloping me in that mountaintop moment. I squeezed my smiling husband’s hand, and when his gaze caught mine, I couldn’t help but think about “the love that I’ve found ever since you’ve been around.”*
As my gaze traced the skyline and trailed down the opposing bluff, my heart swelled with gratitude. Happy tears flooded my eyes as I pondered another love, the amazing love of God that had allowed me the precious gift of that gorgeous view in that very special place. Consumed with thankfulness, I lifted up a prayer, “Thank You, Lord! By Your grace, I got to see this, to be here. Yes, Lord, your love’s put me at the top of the world.”
It’s been 31 years since that awful October day when I learned that I was losing my sight. Based on the doctor’s prognosis, I was convinced that by the time I reached my 60s, I would be completely blind. Yet, despite having recently celebrated my 64th birthday, I can still see! Praise God! It’s certainly true that I have lost a huge amount of vision over the past 31 years. Yet, by the grace of God, I can still appreciate the grandeur of the Montana mountains or admire the vibrant golden leaves of the Cottonwood trees that line the rivers and streams of the West. It’s not normal vision, but it is useable vision, and for that, I give my eternal thanks.
Over the past almost six years, God has blessed Eric and me with the tremendous opportunity to load up our RV and hit the road. I am overwhelmed when I consider all the amazing places we have seen in this beautiful country of ours. Those travels would be a blessing for anyone, but, friends, I have to tell you that for a person who is going blind, the opportunity to see and experience all those places of natural beauty is an incredible gift. There are no adequate words to fully express my gratitude for God’s gracious gift to us.
This year’s Fall adventure season spanned 7 weeks and 6055 miles, visiting 13 states, 4 state/county parks, and 2 National Parks, including the above-described spectacular moment in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. On the way out to Montana, we had the special blessing of meeting a new friend in person for the first time, a woman who shares my eye disease and connected with me through the reading of my personal memoir. It was a meeting that truly touched my heart, and I know full well made God smile.
We made it to Montana, spending three weeks visiting our son Jonathan and his precious Jocelyn, hiking trails, eating delicious food, visiting family,meeting their friends, and watching the Big Sky Country sunsets from the back porch. One night, the heavens offered a marvelous surprise, illuminating the Northern Lights above our astonished heads! We delighted in a visit from two of our oldest friends, Susan and Bill, who drove out from Oregon to meet us. While there, Eric joined the construction crew, helping Jonathan and Jocelyn convert a pole barn into an enclosed garage and building a deluxe woodshed. My favorite moment was the lovely birthday party they hosted for me before we climbed into the truck and started our long trek home.
Friends, God loves you, and He loves me, and He loves to bless us, every day, in so many ways. There are magical moments when you feel like you are on top of the world, and there are simpler, quieter moments when you hear the merry tinkle of children laughing, or spy the smile of a precious loved one. The blessings are there every day, if we will have eyes to see them.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, will you pause and take note of the blessings in your life? Take the time to treasure a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Delight in a warm, inviting conversation with a friend or family member. Feast on some delicious food, and enjoy a time of fellowship at the table. Lift your voice in a song or prayer of praise for these good and gracious gifts. Wherever you find yourself this week, will you join me with a thankful heart and a grateful smile, always and forever giving God the glory?
PRAYER
O Gracious Heavenly Father, we lift up our hearts in praise this morning, giving thanks for all the good and wondrous things You have done. You lavish us with blessings. You bestow grace upon grace. Lord, we are overwhelmed by Your goodness and Your faithfulness. To You, be all glory, honor, majesty, and praise.
In the Precious name of Jesus, we give all thanks and praise,
Amen
Thanksgiving Blessings,
Anita
*Lyrics from the song, “Top of the World,” by The Carpenters, 1973
-APS 11/25/2024
Faith Beyond Sight 