matter of perspective

Winter announces its presence with wet weather, strong winds and chilly nights.

Night comes much faster than in summer, with the sky darkening by 6am – earlier, if the clouds were first to hide the sun rendering a dull, grayish overcast. I’m surprised by winter’s arrival.

Not that I haven’t lived in Australia previously but I guess I wasn’t as prepared.

Neither was I prepared for the challenges that lay before me being in the midst of being here.

This season of winter is uncannily appropriate for both where I am and the natural environment around me.

It was a good three to four weeks were I found myself derailed into a state of sulking unwillingness. My physical self was walking forward, lifeless, but my heart and mind was thrown into a head spin where I longed, so badly, to return back to Singapore - a place where I have been blessed to find camaraderie, heart-to-heartedness and the openness to share what’s in my heart without restraint.

To talk hours, days on end about God’s goodness, to be encouraged by those whom He sends and to just experience God and share hope and promise without sounding overtly optimistic.

It’s something I miss badly being here.

In so many words, I wished I did not have to be where I am.

I marvel at Daryl’s tenacity to press on but I admit to constantly wondering why I had to be back to where I was struggling years ago.

Well, that’s winter – cold, chilly and challenging.

You can’t see anything happening save the rain that clouds the road you travel on and the heavy grey that cover the sky. The cold bites at your feet wherever you walk and nip at your fingers when you extend it out. Trees appear withered - losing their leaves and leaving only empty, wiry branches.

But as Daryl drove by a row of trees planted by the road one day, I realized that in a particular row of trees, one of them still had a full crown of leaves, while all the leaves of the rest had already fallen and were probably blown off by the ravaging winds.

God’s word then struck me –

He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

Despite seasons,

I shall be like a tree,

Planted by the rivers of water,

That bears forth fruit in its season

I shall not wither

And whatever I do shall prosper.

Through all of this, I think my Daddy is giving His princess a renewed and I pray, deeper understanding of receiving the gift of righteous and the abundance (and I mean ABUNDANCE) of His grace.

I guess winter’s a matter of perspective – God put the seasons into motion (genesis 8:22) but He’s the one that is faithful through all of it.