Cape Town is a city like no other. You can swim with penguins in the Indian Ocean and surf the icy Atlantic on the same day. On a summer night, you can watch the sunset behind Table Mountain at 7pm and watch it set again from the beach at 8pm. There is even a kingdom within the city. The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest but most diverse of the world’s six plant kingdoms.
We’ve recently moved to the northern edges of the city to ease our financial burden. I wrestled with moving further from our church community and no longer being able to host church groups from our home. I wondered how it would impact us and our community. Now, we’re happily settled, and I’m on a mission to find the best local parks. Our church’s women’s group alternates between two beautiful homes in our church’s community.
This week, I kissed my family and left home for the 25 minute drive to group. As I drove, I could see the sun setting over Table Mountain, Signal Hill, Lion’s Head, and finally dipping down into the Atlantic. The sky was painted with the most marvelous colors in all creation. In awe, all by myself, I said, “Is this what it always looks like?”
That magnificent Monday sunset painter whispered back, “Sometimes you just have to step back to see it.” I’m further out now. The rhythms are different. And so is the view.
We’ve heard about drawing near to God to know Him, but sometimes we forget to take a step back and behold a bigger picture. There’s a glory story written in the sky daily, ushering in new mercies for the hard and heavy things in front of us. There are people who care, ready and willing to help you, hold you or hear you. There’s a big God working out a good plan so that you can walk in freedom and love for eternity. Yes, there will be dark and dismal days. Even then, we can step back and see a bigger picture.
Listen to “There is a God” by Tasha Layton.