Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The Golden Dome



"Domer"
12" X 12" Oil on Raymar Canvas Panel
NFS

Here in southern Indiana, we are deep into that time of year –time to close up the swimming pools, store the patio furniture, change the wreath on the front door, and make sure the rakes, blowers, and mulchers are all in good working order………because the greens have turned to red, orange, gold, and brown, and are falling to the ground.   And ya gotta do something with that new ground cover!  Few things stay the same in our surroundings when the seasons change.

We have made quite a few trips to the always beautiful and immaculately kept Notre Dame campus in Notre Dame, Indiana this past year.  With the construction of a new building and various other updates, it never quite looked the same each time we visited.  However, it seemed the one thing we could count on was the notably identifiable Golden Dome – its presence towering magnificently at the end of the tree-lined boulevard.  The only difference in its appearance each time was how it was ”framed”:  nestled amongst abundant green foliage, various jewel-toned autumn gems, or bare branches creating gaps filled in with a patchwork of gray skies.  While the Dome itself never changed, its “frame” sometimes affected our perception of it.

What’s different in your landscape?  What has changed with the seasons – seasons of victory, joy, abundance,……..and seasons of sadness, depression, or loss?  At the risk of sounding like my grandma, I will have to say things have changed so much in our culture during my lifespan, I hardly recognize us at times! 

With the  assurance of change, it’s hard to know what or who one can depend on.  Perhaps the one thing you have put your security in is losing its power.  Relationships come and go, the economy is up and down, political issues go round and round, and laws/rules are in and out.  Often change results in insecurity, anxiety, and insomnia, among other issues.  That is, IF you focus on your circumstances.  Fortunately, we serve a God who never changes, loves unconditionally, and is “compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love”. 

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.”
Proverbs 18:10

Just wonderin if you’re believing that today……….