It’s a beautiful day in the Mid-South. The temperature is close to 60° F and it’s sunny. There is a pretty stiff breeze to remind you that it is still the season of Winter. Winter is different in the Mid-South. Freezing temperatures are not uncommon, but it normally warms up during the day. The problem is the humidity and cold combine to make the kind of cold that gets into your bones. Warm sunshine in the middle of Winter is a beautiful thing.
Today’s first reading from 2 Samuel (15:13-14, 30, 16:5-13) offers a small stream of sunlight for David in the midst of a harsh winter. Even though David was a man after God’s own heart, he was still a sinner; to be precise an adulterer and murderer. Absalom, David’s son, wanted to kill him; the family of Saul, the former king, wanted to kill David; and, Shimei, a member of Saul’s family comes out hurling stones and curses at David. Not a good day for the king.
King David’s response is astounding, though. He tells his men to let Shimei to curse him and maybe God will look with favor on David another day. Wow! In the midst of struggle David puts God first. And, in the midst of clouds, David can see a silver lining. This is why he was a man after God’s own heart. David was far from perfect, but he always returned to the Lord after he messed up. The goal of Satan is to get me to sin and then turn even further away from God.
Faith allows me to trust that God will shine upon me even if I can’t see or feel Him. Faith gives me strength to turn again and again to the Lord after I have screwed up. Where in your life do you need to feel the shining warmth of God? Ask God for the grace of His sunshine.
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