long before time began, before the morning stars were taught to sing, God knew you. He knew when you would take your first breath. He knew when you would breathe your last. He saw every moment of your life before one of them had been lived. He knew your heart. He created that heart. a heart so like His own. God wove with delicate intricacy every strand of your DNA. your heart was larger than life. compassion collided with humor and devotion and passion and firm resolve and grittiness and simply overflowed with love, splashing its mist wherever you went. and most of all, your heart had an insatiable desire to know more and more of your Papa. to live in His presence. to spend time talking with and worshiping the One you loved. prayer was the very breath of life in you, my friend. countless hours were spent interceding for all those God brought into your life. even as you struggled physically, with duct tape seemingly holding you together at times, your faith stood strong. not because you yourself were so strong, but because your faith was firmly planted in the One who held you close. in the One who walked with you every single day of your life. Rick, you have literally touched thousands of hearts and lives, my own included. you believed in me when I unable to. you will be missed more than words can say, yet my heart beats with joy knowing you are breathing with ease, running and dancing with joy, gazing into the eyes of Jesus, and sitting in your Papa's lap. and I know you heard these words: well done, good and faithful servant.
fragile: easily broken, shattered, or damaged. vulnerably delicate. so much surrounding every beating heart is fragile. a rose. a snowflake. a crystal vase. a dandelion puff. a butterfly's wings. life. love. feelings. breathing. beating hearts. if something is fragile, we protect it. we guard it. we hold it close. that which is fragile is often precious, is it not? and much of what is precious cannot truly be protected to the point of guaranteed protection, right? especially life itself. words from Jesus in Matthew 10... "What is the price of two sparrows - one copper coin? But not a sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." and that is a promise for all time, for all persons, for all circumstances. and He is faithful to keep His promises.
the symphony was playing even before time and space began. angels by tens of thousands sang as galaxies and planets were flung into space, as rainbows of worship danced, as stars were called by name. the Master Composer knew every note, every harmony, every rhythm, before creation began. the symphony written by the hand of the Creator. yet He - in boundless love - allows the created to join in the performance. free will meaning the music will often take on sounds causing His heart to weep. harmonies dissonant. chords clash. suspensions longing to be resolved as hearts formed in His own image argue, fight, disagree. conflict upon conflict. His tears fall like the rain, yet never is that heart caught off guard. His plan as woven through old testament, history, and prophecy, reached forward as the music intensified, fulfilled as the Creator became the created. divinity dressed in humanity. the divine symphony unfurled as angels and stars rejoiced. His plan carried on as the heart of the Savior beat with compassion, forgiveness, mercy, love. each note played in perfection as He walked toward the cross. the symphony crescendoing in agony as the Creator Composer breathed His final breath. the enemy though the final movement had been played, the music silenced forever.
but sometimes the silence of a rest speaks louder than the sound of the music.
three days later angels numbering by thousands, stars, sun, moon, all of creation, eyes fixed on the Conductor, joined the orchestra in a chorus exquisite. drops of sun meeting drops of grace as voices raised to heaven, singing, "joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of light. hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above. melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of night away. giver of immortal gladness fill us with the light of day!"
