The Stars Are There

     I am studying Psalms this summer and many of them contain a "but". I love the buts because they  represent a turning point, usually from bad to good. I am going to share just the what, not the why of this poem, however, you would not have to be psychic to tell that last week was hard for reasons besides the news. But yesterday God gifted me with a perfect combination of sunny skies and cool weather, accomplishment and rest--a spa day for my soul.

   The Stars Are There

 The stars are there, even when you don’t see them, 

God told me in the stillness of the night

when I looked to the heavens for comfort

in the vast and powerful works of God,

but wildfire smoke obscured the sky

and I could not find their light.

 

 I thought the words He gave me then

concerned sad world events

in Haiti and Afghanistan, 

shaken by storms and the Taliban.

But those words were also intended for

our impending private storm.

 

 After years of shining steadily, then brightly

came days of darkness, silence, desperation.

I called for reinforcements, prayer warriors.

We linked faith shields around the fallen

while we waited for the battle to end,

the smoke to clear, and any sign of light. 

 

 Chaos turned to calm, mayhem to mercy.

The forgiven scoured the battlefield

for shields and weapons to begin again.

Flickering faith rekindled, remembered-- 

The stars are there, and just as bright 

when they are hidden from my sight.

  8/24/21