Back in Hobbitland

Nome welcomes me with mud, gray drizzle, and stormy waves. BUT there is a lot of sunshine indoors! Sunshine from Wesley's golden curls, from the smiles of little Caleb, from the sparkle in the kids' eyes, and Car and Nate's Welcome Home hugs! And, there is sunlight above the clouds. I was reminded of that when the plane lifted off from Kotzebue, our last stop before Nome. it was disgustingly gray there, too, and I was feeling a little depressed at the sight of it. But as we lifted into the sky and broke through a surprisingly thin layer of clouds, the sky instantly cleared and I could see the rosy morning sunrise over mountainous white clouds, and the vast blue sky beyond. It was breathtakingly beautiful. And somehow, I thought, it was comforting to know that even though Nome has a majority of dark days, just through the cloud cover is always, always, a beautiful sky. Once again I was reminded of the Invisible Reality of life. When it feels like the darkness of earth is our reality, it's important to remember that there is a much vaster, fuller beauty above us and THAT is where we must fix our minds. Not just because it's a good "feel happy" exercise; but because it is a vital part of our Christian lives. If we are going to survive the battle against world, flesh, devil (and might I add "emotions!") our mind HAS to be fixed in the heavenlies.

Col. 3:1-2 (ESV)
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."