Thanks

The other morning my brother and I took a drive inland.  It was early and we were quiet, which is good – silence is better for looking.  Taking the opportunity to practice my observational skills, I began to look intently at the land as it passed by.  My eyes widening and squinting, comparing, drawing in my mind, searching fixedly for colors hidden in the mountains, hills, and trees, we eventually approached a hillside of many colors.  The green vestiges of spring still clung in swatches encroached upon by the widening amber gold of summer. 

I thought about having lived here for most of my life and never really appreciating how beautiful this place is.  My focus panned out to see the hill in the context of its surrounding mountains speckled with oaks, and I realized that God had tailored that moment of beauty specifically for me.  His artistry was on exhibit and would be all day long in separate unique showings for all those who were to pass by that day. 

Naturally, I thought to thank Him for the privilege and joy of seeing His work.  So I did, offering up a silent prayer of gratitude, but it seemed like awfully insufficient thanks.  How could I possibly pay Him back?  Of course, I quickly answered myself with, “Well, you can’t and He doesn’t ask you to.”  It’s free – all of it.  Free hill, free mountains, free beauty, free life, free grace.  He doesn’t require anything of us.  Yet, there is one thing He asks that we surrender to Him.

As I reflected on the beautiful scene displayed to me that day, I stumbled upon one of those wonderful truthy paradoxes of faith.  It was simple, and it was as beautiful as that hill.  It was that God doesn’t ask us to pay Him anything.  He just asks that we give Him everything.  It does my soul well to know that I can give my everything to Him, not as payment, but as thanks.