The Promise

It was like looking at a painting hanging on my wall. A still life yet, very much alive.

I've seen this same picture a hundred times before, but today at that very moment, it grabbed my heart and said, "Even when it appears to be lifeless and lost, your dream is made of miracles waiting to be born. It is the promise."

I was looking out my window at a very cold, bleak winter scene. I believe I was longing for something more in my life. Perhaps something as simple as hope. The kind of hope only spring can deliver.

"It looks so dead out there," I thought.

"Can't you see the miracle beneath it all?" echoed from somewhere in the back of my mind.

Black, white, shades of grey and brown don't look much like miracles to me. I saw my life in the frozen branches of the small bushes I planted last summer. They blossomed once and then gave in to the power of winter's deadly grip. I had given in to the coldness of negativity this day.

The snow covered pond once flowed freely over the rocks offering the soothing sounds of a waterfall. Now sadly still and quiet, it too appeared lifeless. The bird feeders had no takers. The corn and seed lay snow covered in the squirrel feeder, too.

"Where is hope in death? Where is life in stillness?" I asked.

"You'll find hope in the promise made," the voice responded from within.

"What promise?" I asked.

"Life beyond death. Miracles unseen beneath the stagnant shell of your life. Life within the living water frozen in place for now, that one day soon will be set free. Life waiting to begin again deep within the roots of all living things. Life within the seed created by God for those that need
nourishment."

I stood quietly looking for proof. "I am only human and need to see before I believe," I said.

"Then it is not hope you need, but faith. Faith requires that you first believe, then you will see."

"Then what is hope?"

I was quickly reminded of my own words I have often shared with others..."Hope is a thing with wings that lifts you high enough to see the truth."

Just then one small bird flew in and landed on the feeder. The once still life now was very much alive.

"Is that the promise?"

"The promise made is that life goes on. The promise kept is spring."

Have faith, my friend and you'll find hope in the promise, too.


"I believe in you!"
Bob Perks
Bob@BobPerks.com
copyright 2004 Bob Perks
Use of this story for commercial use is prohibited without direct permission from the author.