I am a light sleeper and when I am in unusual places, I sleep even less. Right now, I am in LA, which is smoky and hazy from all the fires. Arriving at dusk on Thursday, the city was even uglier than I remembered from the last time I was here as a kid. But on Friday, the skies began to clear a little and I began to see the colors, muted by drought, the houses, which are tightly packed together yet colorful, and the people, who are friendly and sun-drenched. What was ugly in my perception was beautiful in the light. It is helpful that I am at a conference for future ministers in my denomination, but I think my experience would be the same if I were here for any other reason. John Calvin talks about all of creation speaking to the presence and activity of God. My experience of LA, at least right now at 5:30 in the morning and having been awake for almost 2 hours, is one of seeing the world backlit by the presence of God. Perhaps it is the benefit of no sleep that I am able to see without “scales on my eyes”, as Paul experienced in Acts. Or perhaps I am not sleeping because that deeper awareness has been trying to push through, on God’s terms, not mine. Either way, it makes LA a beautiful place.
Peace to all!
Seth
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