Night Vision

The view from the end of our favorite trail was glorious, the sun beginning to set as my husband and I stood atop granite boulders in the orange glow, receiving the beauty that surrounded us, relishing everything about those moments. "It's a good thing brought my headlight," I commented, as we realized our three-mile hike back to our car would take us a couple of hours. "And we have a quarter moon to help, too," Brent replied.

Soon my light was necessary for me to detect the path and all it consisted of—the rocks, roots, branches and ice patches that could easily trip me. I loved the adventure and mystery of only being able to see a few feet in front me and was grateful for the light strapped to my head to illuminate my steps.

Brent, however, was trailing far behind me. I raced back to him, eager to share my light so he, too, could see the trail. "No, thanks," he said. "I need to be far from your light because, when I'm near you, it ruins the way my eyes have adjusted to the dark, and it throws me off."

I wonder how often I've been insensitive to the need of others when they're going through dark times. My need to rescue kicks in, and I run up to them with whatever light God has given me to "help" them find their way, when it could be a holy time for them to sense God in the night, to know Him in ways they'd never before known Him, to trust Him for each step, to lean on the the vision of the One to whom darkness is as the light of day. 

I'm finding it is important to honor as sacred another's journey and to realize the way in which God is helping me may not be the unique, personal way He is providing for another.

I was thankful for my headlamp as I hiked in the dark. It was a gift to me. And my husband treasured the chance to hike under a starlit sky and a quarter moon, embracing the challenge of discerning his way with only what was provided in the night sky. That was a gift to him.

Isaiah 45:3 says this: "I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, am the God of Israel."

As well-intentioned as I may be, I could be robbing my loved ones of the promised treasures and hidden riches awaiting them by rushing in with my bright light! 

I'll continue to seek God in my shadowy places, receiving whatever light He gives, whatever He has to show me of Himself, and will keep learning to entrust others to God, who constantly is revealing Himself to us. Let me never be a hindrance to another's knowing and learning to know God, even in times of darkness.

Where I'm Meant To Be

I bow to the Prince of Peace

Tame the wild storm that is me

Raise your hand over the surface

Of the ocean that's my heart

Peace be still, you say

Peace

Be

Still

Postured now as He made me

To be

Yielding to the calm

Of my Prince

Who is my Peace.

diane mann 2011

Discovery

Ah, I merely touched the hem of His garment
And am changed
What must the rest of His robe be like
And He, Himself?
My life and eternity
Shall be spent
Exploring
Jesus, whose hem touched me.

diane mann 2011

Sometimes I Forget

Sometimes I forget I'm forgiven, thus forgetting you, too, are forgiven. Please forgive me.
diane mann 2011

Every Time I Think of You (a song for my grandbabies)

Every time I think of you, I smile
Every time I think of you, I grin
Every time you knock
On the door of my house
I'm happy
To let you in!

diane mann 2011

Trash versus Treasure

I recently helped with cleaning out the condominium of a woman I know who is being moved to an assisted-living apartment.  She is presently in a convalescent home, so she wasn't there to help decide what to keep and what to box up for her new 500-square-feet living space or what to donate, save for family or throw away.  Her daughter was having to make those decisions, and I found myself often having to ask her what goes where.

Dorothy, the friend who is moving, is most likely the tidiest person I know.  There were very few items I came across that I knew were to be trashed.  However after the men disassembled her bed, I noticed several candy wrappers on the floor where the bed once was.  I didn't need to ask where to put those; they were obviously trash.

My husband and I reflectively drove home from our time helping at the 2,000-square-foot condominium, pondering what really matters in life, what we value, what role our "stuff" plays.  And for these few days as I have continued to process it all, the picture of the candy wrappers keeps coming to mind.

I have in the past cared too much about what others think of me, and I realize God has worked in me, tearing down my idols, helping lower the status of others' opinions to the under-the-bed-candy-wrapper level, when how I was seen by others used to be on my mantle, a place for things that are lovely, treasured and meaningful.  What a journey I've been on as God has dismantled more and more of what does not matter in my life and replaced it with what does.   Responding to God and His love for me.  Living my life to know and be known by Him, to love and be loved by Him.  Extending His grace and love to others.  The rest is as valuable as a candy wrapper.

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10, ESV

Show Us You (A prayer for my daughter and her husband on their wedding day)

To You, O Lord, we lift our souls

In You we place our trust

Let not the hardships of this life

Remove Your joy from us

May hope not depart

May truth be near

Putting forth its light

As we look to You

Led and loved by You

Guide us on paths that are right.

And when we stumble and fall

Or don't give a care

For all You are and You do

When we close our eyes tight

To hide from Your light

Let us know that Your grace

Is there too

For there's nowhere You're not

Show us You.

diane mann 2011

This Very Hour (a chorus)

I need your power
I need your strength
In this very hour
In this very place
Meet me here
As I wait
In this very hour
In this very place

diane mann 2011

I Love You Too (a song)

At Advent I entered into some times with God daily where I became more open to Him as my
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Eternal Father
Prince of Peace
focusing each week on allowing Him to be these to me in new and deeper ways.  The week that God as my Eternal Father was the focus, I was asked to list attributes of a good father, some of which I had been the recipient of from my earthly father and some of which I missed, and to let Christ be that Father He claims to be to me.  The material from which I read asked me to let all that I noticed about God's Eternal Fatherhood be translated into praise.  As I wrote, I became increasingly aware of His adoring-Father love for me that He has shown all along (even when I didn't notice).

And this song came out of my heart (and eventually came out of my mouth and guitar strings!):

I love You too
I love You too
My heart sings out
That I love You
I know You've heard
This song before
You'll recognize the tune
The same song You have sung to me
I'm singing back to You

diane mann 2010

God and I share some sweet times with this tune!  I feel enjoyed as I sing it and find joy in presenting it to Him.  It just represents a lot that I've known in my head to be true of God (that He rejoices over me with singing and that I can love because He first loved me) and am more and more knowing it in my very being and experiencing the truth that I am loved.