What do you do when torrential rains are falling, and New Year’s wishes are calling? If you are like me, you light a favorite candle, play soft music and write. This morning, my seed of inspiration came when my friend Linda sent a link to a blog in which the writer was stating her sadness for the world’s ills, from her own heartbreaking situation to those of her extended community. We can all say, “I hear you!”, unless we have our heads in the sand. I too, hurt deeply for those who’ve met with disaster, heartache and illness. But for some reason, I never see it as clearly in my own life. Sometimes I feel guilty for having it so easy, or it’s like I wear rose colored glasses. Remember that song?

Was it three or four years ago we had the total solar eclipse? Remember the little cardboard sunglasses everyone was grabbing to be prepared for the once in a lifetime event? I had the pleasure of spending that day with my sister and her granddaughters. We made a party of it, (she is like that) and I will never forget being able to witness such a phenomenon. If not for the special eyewear we would have either missed a part of the experience, or suffered eye damage. Wearing them protected us from harmful rays we could not see!

A good pair of sunglasses is another protection and vital to my bird watching pleasure. Our bluebirds perch on an electric line where the sun’s glare makes it impossible for me to admire, much less identify one bird from another, until I remember to wear sunglasses. Then I am able to see the beauty while blocking the glare. Same principle you experience for driving safety or vacation vistas. We just do not need to look right into the brazen blazing heat of the battles.

It seems God provides rose colored glasses to soften the glare of life, to protect and enable. If I were to sit down and start naming all the stuff I wish wasn’t there, I most likely would miss the beauty living right alongside the beast. I’d get so far down in the trenches I couldn’t see the light of day. Unlike the song, these glasses aren’t to “show only the beauty and hide all the truth”. Instead, these dim the glare of life’s ugly, helping me see more of the beauty – just like the sunglasses. For some, the way of escape is highlighted; others see how to execute a plan to make a change, none of which could be seen while squinting at blinding rays of our world’s woes. When we face a situation that feels unbearable, there comes a buffer from the heart of God and we know we’re going to make it one more step, one more day. A shield between us and the enemy, is “the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16). “We walk by faith, not by sight.” (II Corinthians 5:7) Thank God, I do not need to see everything past, present and future to get where I am going – what an inconceivably amazing mind is that of our God, Who does see all! And then He lets me see through the eyes of faith all I need to know, where I need to go, and a glimpse of eternity’s rosy glow.

I would be blind and unkind to minimize the struggles the past year has held for so many. But I know God offers shelter from the storms, rest for the weary and grace for when I forget to acknowledge His provisions. Life does have sharp edges! It does get ugly. It makes me cry. I just cannot look at all of it at once. Wearing God’s rose colored faith glasses, I see the rosy glow behind a sunset’s clouds. I clearly see Him carrying us through, conquering our enemies, and giving peace that passes understanding.

My “happy new year” is a bit late due to my choice to set the writing aside for a while and enjoy many blessings. A good hot meal to cook, in a dry warm house; the company of a good husband; visit from nieces here who taught me to play Chinese Checkers and Spoons; and texting with my precious friend and family too, are the rose colored glasses God gave me today.

May your 2022 be just bright enough – not blinding, and not dark. But when you do (and we will) get to those places of too much or not enough, have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who walked this way already and knows exactly where you need to place each step.