“Oh, blessed be God! He didn’t go off and leave us.” Psalm 124.6
In the past twenty-four hours, I have seen more rooftops than at any point in my life. There were rooftops from the tops of Notre Dame’s cathedral towers, the Eifel Tower, and the Arche de Triomphe. Climbing small, narrow, stone circular stone staircases is now second nature. Trusting man’s imagination almost comes naturally. All the time there are kids, everywhere kids!
This week is school break in Europe. Everywhere one finds kids out exploring the world. It is beyond amazement that we have not found kids stranded. Imagine the stress waiting in lines for see the various sites. You know the hassle in trying to get a group of people from point A to point B in a city while on a budget. Even good kids come unglued after awhile!
During a full day of wondering, watching people, enjoying the vistas, I saw only one kid in trouble. I did not find any abandoned or lost, and smiles were everywhere to be found. There is only one answer! I found kids who had parents that love them without reserve! This must be the answer.
Paris is a city with too much stress. Paris is a city with traffic coming through when you least expect it, long distances between venues, expensive shopping, and a flood of minor hassles. If you add in a language barrier for most families, you have a recipe for disaster!
If only yesterday, I did not find it. I found waiters who went out of their way to understand and be helpful. I found public transportation running on time. I found apologies for poor service, even when most of it was beyond their control.
Discovering God is a similar experience. One comes expecting a conditional God who will leave the first time I fail or do something stupid. One finds an unconditional God who knows in advance I will fail, and loves me with unending grace.
Awesome! Bless be God, he did not go off and leave you or I!
