Every morning, I take my first cup of coffee into my office/study to read and pray before the day begins. Seated in the recliner, I can turn my head up and to the right and catch this view out the window.
The birch tree is one I planted there nearly fifty years ago, and tenderly cared for with pruning, fertilizing, and bug-proofing. The birch shows me the seasons, and through its branches, I watch the sun rise in the east. This morning the wispy clouds were a light pink color, and the sky above them was a brilliant blue. Often a bird will briefly perch on one of the branches, or a squirrel will scamper up the trunk, pause with its tail twitching, then race back down as if off to some urgent task.
This morning I read Psalm 124:8 (ESV) “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” Every time I look out this window, I think about the wonder and perfection of God’s creation. The sun, ninety-three million miles distant, stays in its place, precisely positioned as a life giving energy source; neither too close nor too far. The blue sky and life-sustaining air, always just enough oxygen to support life. And the life-cycle of the birch tree, now resting and dormant.
The more I look out this window, the more I see the handiwork of God, Maker of heaven and earth. I read ancient words on a page, and look up to see the confirmation of the truths I have just read. Thanks be to God.
Robert Frohlich 