Layers

by Lauri Lemke Thompson (art by Mary Arneson)

The intricate design, yet naturally flowing beauty of a pink rose.
Who thought of such a thing?
Petals upon petals, overlapping.
Such are these Ozark mountains
When one overlooks their rounded shapes –
Hazy blue hill upon blue hill, arranged with grace
In layers,
Like petals.
Who thought of such a thing?

Low-lying clouds make the hills’ layers more visible, not less,
Their blue edges taking shape.
What could not be seen in the glare of the sun
Becomes apparent in the grey mist:
The layers.
Like petals.
See them and bow in awe to Creative God
Who breathed the rose and the
Celestial hills into reality.

Such are the layers of God’s love.
One is not enough–
No, He gives more petals,
Creates more richness and beauty
For me to relish in.
To bless me more.

Give her protection.
Give her strength.
Give her courage.
Give her renewal.
Give her healing.
Give her people she loves.
Give her work she cherishes.

Give her more layers.
Give her the adventure –
The pure happiness – of knowing Jesus
And how it feels to lie her head down
On the softness of His gifts, His petals, His layers.
There she finds rest for her soul.

All those rose petals defy us getting to the middle.
All those hills seem to have no end.
Who would think of such a thing?

Close up, one cannot see the
Layers of the mountains.
Far away, one cannot see the
Petals of the rose.

So we need to zoom the lens
Now out, now in.
Either way,
See.

The grey-blue,
The delicate pink,
The layers.