Marine Haze

Southern California has a marine haze which looks a lot like smog to the uninitiated visitor.  It is white haze, dense, and almost suffocating.  Yet for those in the know there isn’t anything especially threatening or worthy of note.  The haze is especially pronounced during the June Gloom period, which seems to start in late May.  I have no experience or evidence to challenge the local knowledge.  I believe their insight and wisdom is accurate, given their body language, ease of conversation, and hope for the future.
 
The void and gap between those who hold hope within their grasp and those who walk blindly only increases with the reality of each morning.  I’m sure patience is critical.  Yet by my statement I am also acknowledging how fragile my confidence is.  How could this possibly be true?  Is the confidence expressed by the past merely a fa?ade of compromise to give people courage for the present?  Should the reality of today be a warning for the storms to come?
 
In trying to navigate the obstacles and opportunities of today there is more confusion than certainty, unknowns than assurances, and fears than confidence.  It is hard to deal with twists and turns which come unexpectedly.  One thirsts for certainty, assurance, and confidence.  One longs for hope realized.  Yet in the certainty we seek something is inevitably lost.  It is as if we are willing to abandon our creativity in fear.  We give up the value of personal sovereignty for a temporary sense of belonging.  We discard upside opportunity for a fragile and ultimately crumbling floor. 
 
The feeling isn’t new.  People have always struggled with the uncertainty of the moment to come.  When someone said “in a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me,” (John 16.16) panic and confusion set in.  We have good reason to fear yet even better reasons to hold onto hope.  Love, mercy, and unconditional respect are powerful!  No haze will ever stand for long.  Hope is in our hands.