Heaven and Earth are full of Your Glory

 

A couple of weeks ago I was on an island in the western Visayas region of the Philippines. There is a Balete tree there which has stood (and is still growing) for 1300 years according to Botanists. Amazing to think of all the history that has unfolded since it first sprouted from the earth. In the same town is Mount Kanlaon, an active volcano that has been spitting out rocks since Dinosaurs walked the earth; a truly magnificent sight as the sun rose and glistened on its peak and a squadron of swallows flew by and added their benediction. I am often in awe at the wonders of creation, it restores something in the heart to be immersed in it. 

But there was more glory in that town to be seen as I moved from creation to redemption. I went for coffee at Joring’s Café. Now in her 70’s her testimony is written on the wall of the café. A rebellious teenager, married at 16 and abandoned with 2 children by 21 she had a tough journey ahead of her. In 1976, with only 27 pesos (50p) and the support of loving, pious parents she started making coffee for the traders and shoppers at the local market, her children helping to serve and do the dishes. Through many hardships, and a renewed faith and trust in God, she was able to survive and thrive as has her whole family; her grandchildren are college graduates now while she finished schooling part way through high school. But there is more to her success in that she is also an example for the young, encouraging them to obey their parents and keep their values and faith intact, to not make the same mistakes as her; and even to those who do she offers hope through change of heart, faith and diligence in work. 

If we have eyes to see it, Heaven and Earth really are full of His Glory.

 

There is a way things work

A monk had a brother living in the world who was poor, and so he supplied him with all he received from his work. But the more the monk supplied, the poorer the brother became. So the monk went to tell an old man about it. The old man said to him ‘if you want my advice do not give him anything more but say to him, “Brother, when I had something I supplied you; now bring me what you get from your work” Take all he brings you and whenever you see a stranger or a poor man give him some of it, begging him to pray for him.’

The monk went away and did this. When his secular brother came he spoke to him as the old man had said, and the brother went sadly away. The first day, taking some vegetables from his field, he brought them to the monk. The monk took them and gave them to the old men, begging them to pray for his brother and after the blessing he returned home. In the same way, another time the brother brought the monk vegetables and 3 loaves which he took, doing as on the first occasion and having received the blessing he went away. And the secular brother came a third time bringing many provisions, some bread and fish.

Seeing this, the monk was full of wonder and he invited the poor so as to give them some refreshment. Then he said to his brother ‘do you need a little bread? ‘The other said ‘No, for when I used to receive something from you, it was like a fire coming into my house and burning it, but now that I receive nothing from you God Blesses me’ Then the monk went to tell the old man all that had happened and the old man said to him “Do you not know that the work of the monk is of fire, and where it enters it burns? It helps your brother more to do alms with what he reaps from his field and to receive the prayers of the saints and thus to be blessed’