It’s come to this. I’m taking photos of my son’s shower curtain. Captivated by Light that casts glowy shadows in the rooms of my house.
Last year, I knew this kindred Psalm. Every word revealing a tributary on the face of my open palm:
I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eye wastes away because of grief;
it grows weak because of all my foes.
(Psalm 6:6-7 ESV)
And finding simple beauty, like the way the light filters through a shower curtain, it’s what drew me back into joy. Sound crazy? Maybe you should try it.
At twilight, I push my high heels through freshly cut field wearing a new top. Sit in a borrowed zebra chair positioned next to a candelabra on a wide expanse of sodden stage; the trees our opening curtain. And while the shutter blinks, I’m pleading with God under my breath about the stalkers, grey hatted overhead. “Please blow them away,” I beg.
And just when our hands begin to look like cherry popsicles, I see reflection of answered prayer flickering on the lens. A golden orb peeking through a wiry field of barren branches, flashing a hesitant smile before pulling up her evening covers.
“Oh, the light is so beautiful,” we sing.
And suddenly the cold doesn’t matter anymore. We’re just captivated by the way He surprises with answers. Trying to capture what only the eyes can see; what the heart can truly behold.
When was the last time you were captivated by something ordinary?
If you’ve meandered around here over the past few weeks, you’ve read about how I’ve started to practice true Sabbath and invited you to join me in the quest of renewal and peace. Taking time to stop and see among the busy and mundane minutiae of life. And honestly, what God is doing among us, fifty of us now, well, it’s blowing me away.
I hope you’ll come back and join us as we begin to slow down and see this weekend. It all started here. If you’re interested in joining the sisterhood – Surrendering to Sabbath Society – send me an email: shelly@redemptionsbeauty.com.
Linking with Imperfect Prose with the word prompt: Light.
I am learning that He meets me there in the ordinary:)
Exquisite, Shelly. I think one of the most beautiful parts of Sabbath for me is having eyes to see and taking time to see. When we do, we behold with the heart. We behold God.
Seems so simple doesn’t it? Yet, its become profound to me, and a true gift.
I needed this. Over the last few months my life has mirrored Psalm 6. I ached for Ordinary as a change from Abnormal. Now my eyes of faith are awakening to see the Supernatural in the natural and the Indescribable in the mundane.Thank you so much, Shelly. Your words and reflections are aiding me greatly in the process. May you always #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK by His Presence 🙂
Thanking God with you Joy for “new” eyes to see Him. Such a gift!
So beautiful! Thanks!
Yesterday I was in the boys’ room and suddenly my eye fell on the sunlight on my balcony. There was snow on it. From that snow stuck a tiny small plant his little head up towards the sun. Let’s do like that small plant. In His Light, we will cherish the beautiful moments. ( sorry for my poor englisch)
Not poor English at all. I understood every word you so beautifully conveyed. I can see that lovely sprout poking its way through the snow toward heaven. Thank you for sharing it.
Shelly, I am so with you on observing the everyday and how the change of light makes it look extraordinary, many a time I take my hands out of the washing up bowl and reach for my camera to take a picture of just that – the washing up and my kitchen walls bathed in the soft glow of the changing light – a shower curtain doesn’t seem so strange to me! I too have found joy in the observation of the daily and would join you in encouraging others to try it. Something simple, that can go unnoticed in your everyday routine, looked at differently opens your eyes to a world of delight.
You sound like me Emma, I always have my camera an arm reach away (alongside a towel for wiping off the bubbles).
I so get this & love being captivated by God in the ordinary, an area He has re-awoken in the last 6 months or so. Something that He gives you for that place & that time & just for you. Not only sights – it might be a line or a scene in a film. We never know when & where He is going to show up, but it always takes our breath away when He does
Love what you say here Jo. And I think what you are really saying is having our senses at the ready for glory to be revealed. Because it’s everywhere when we are ready to grasp it.
Beautiful, Shelly. It’s the seemingly ordinary things that truly are the extraordinary!
Yes and amen Eileen!
I can’t wait to see those pictures of you in the golden light in that beautiful field!
I totally get the shower curtain thing. A couple of weeks ago I wrote about taking pictures of my kitchen dishrack — I thought the same thing: “It’s come to this.” [http://michellederusha.com/2013/01/hear-it-on-sunday-use-it-on-monday-we-are-a-people-the-lord-has-blessed/ ]
Blessings to you, Shelly. Have a wonderful, joy-filled weekend.
I remember that post Michelle. I think it posted on the day I happened to take that shower curtain photo and I smiled at the kindred experience. I hope those photos turn out. At least one anyway. 🙂
The last time? Today. I rode my bike this morning, and the sky was the most amazing blue, the kind of blue I usually only see in Colorado at 9,000+ feet above sea level. But today, it was slumming down here with me at 1,700.
We lived in Colorado for a while Megan and how I love those skies. I could almost see it in your words here. Love your words, “slumming down here” too btw. Made me smile.
A person can expect to be overwhelmed by the extraordinary. But being overwhelmed by the ordinary is astonishing, breath-taking, even glorious! It’s as if God tucks a tiny pattern, a glow of light, or a swash of color where we’d least expect it, and allows us the delightful surprise of discovery and the joy of wonder. Thank you, Shelley, for highlighting the benefits of slowing down to savor these precious gifts.
Maybe it comes with age and time Nancy but I’m glad I’m seeing Him in ways I didn’t notice before. Everything feels like a gift to me.
My soul just exhaled…I like this post a lot–and the photo!
Always enjoy seeing you in my comments Arcelia. Love you!
oh, these ordinary moments. they fill me up with their beauty. with the pleasure of breathing in and out in them all. thank you for taking me there.
Thanks for being here Tara.
So much beautiful truth… Ordinary, eh? Yes, God captivated my heart when my 2 year old baby girl peeled her first hard boiled egg. He spoke to me of childlike-faith and childlike-joy over Christmas time… and it’s opened my eyes to His goodness even more. Blessings, friend.
Our little ones take us to such a sweet place of rekindled wonder don’t they? Like nothing else.
Yes the beauty of a single moment of light…I remember a time I was on my porch feeling very low and a bit lost. I was reading the bible and praying when I flash of light reflected off of a car window in front of my house. In that moment it was as if God said MY LIGHT NEVER LEAVES YOU! and I was able to come out of that sad time strengthened and joyful. Great post and thank you for this memory I’ve had :0)
so glad you shared this beautiful glimpse of God speaking to you so uniquely.
what beautiful imagery! I love the glowy shadows, the high heels in the fields, the spirit song of connecting through the ordinary. Thank you!
Thanks Kati, glad you stopped by.
I just love this. Thank you for reminding me to stop and appreciate the beauty in the everyday.
Grateful you stopped by. It seems I’ve had quite a few lessons lately on what I’ve taken for granted.
This is lovely, and I can relate to your experience in the field. I got a new camera for Christmas and am working on a post about what I’m learning, looking through the lens. I don’t want to wish my life away, but I’m looking forward to warmer weather…and greener plants!
Oh the joy of new cameras. I wear mine like a third arm. Have fun playing with yours Brandee.
On a recent flight to San Diego my travel buddy said on take off, “Isn’t it awesome?” and I replied, “What?” and he said, “We’re flying!” and I had forgotten just how cool it is. Sometime the ordinary is downright fascinating.