January, in Minnesota, runs right into February, which slides right into March, with nary a shift in the color of the skies. All appears to be gray upon gray. Unless, of course, there is a cold snap, which allows the sun to come bursting through. Ordinary winter days, however, are marked with gray.
But, with a slight tilt of the head and an adjustment to the eye, the gray skies take on remarkable nuances of color. Gray isn’t just gray, but becomes dove gray, steel gray, slate gray or charcoal gray. Even in a gray sky there are some shards of light, causing the gray to carry bits of pink, or become blue-gray in tone. And then, what of platinum gray, pewter gray or gun metal gray and their value? Layer upon layer, the shades become beautiful!
Gray skies are not always as they seem with a quick glance given in a Minnesota winter. And, so it is also with the gray skies of life. God sends His shards of light that give depth to the gray bringing a beauty into focus that was not there before. Sometimes it is a matter of joy, other times it is a matter of looking at a situation from a new stance, and at others it is recognizing the answers to prayer in a difficult circumstance. And, at all times Jesus longs to be the focus, providing the delight of shades of gray as He works.
Tomorrow, as you drive into work, notice the gray skies. What shades of beauty do they hold which could go unnoticed? What texture do the clouds lend? Where are the shadows and points of light? Be blessed as you realize God works in your life just as He does in the skies.
