He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. Isaiah 40:22 NIV
The circle, without beginning or end, represents God’s eternal nature, completeness, vastness, the heavens and earth, literally. A circle can also be a metaphor for life and relationships, as in a circle of friends and family. And in that regard, I have been greatly blessed.
Circle in nature
Have you ever seen a fairy circle—a mushroom formation? The first time I remember seeing one was at my father-in-law’s house some years ago. Fairy Circles or Rings are fanciful things, apparently formed by an individual spore whose fruits poke up from an underground network.
Much folklore surrounds Elf Circles or Sorcerer’s Rings, speaking to their danger for mere mortals. Seductive and deadly, the Ring’s sprites disappear anyone who steps into the circle then dance him to exhaustion. Rescues from the curse of fairies, elves, witches or dragons are rare and require help from outside one’s self.
The terrifying images from Revelation have me standing firm in a circle of faith, sheltered under God’s canopy, rather than grasshopper-jump into a fairy circle. As an old Irish saying warns, “Don’t put your hand in the elder bush,” both literal, given the harmful toxins, and the metaphor: reaching for evil.
Circle in relationships
Last week’s surgery was more challenging than expected. A Monday night hospital overnight instead of day surgery, a trip to the ER in the wee hours of Wednesday, and an office visit on Friday. Our circle of family and friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, prayed for me and Keith, who held my hand through it all.
Thanks be to God, we were able to meet my daughter and our granddaughter for lunch on Thursday, while they were in the area, celebrate Friday Happy Hour as usual, enjoy dinner provided by dear friends on Saturday, and attend church online on Sunday. Most remarkable about last week’s “blips” were the amazing people I met, both my helpers and those I was supposed to help.
I was canopied by God and exactly where He wanted me to be.
Circle in a life of faith
As I explore my word for this year—humility—I’m struck by how second, third, fourth, and even more big chances at humility dominate our lives. Life takes practice, even though our photographs of family, friends, and events don’t usually show those humbling attempts.
I’m thinking of my own social media posts, and the celebration of life I watched online on Saturday afternoon. One of my father’s younger sisters died last month, and her memorial was live-streamed. I didn’t know my aunt very well; we only met a few times. But seeing photographs of her birth family—shown here with my aunt on the far right and my tall father standing in the middle—and her own family pictures gave me a sense of the circle of her life.
A life tented in faith.
Linkup with Five Minute Friday
Kinda thinking twice about posting this, but you had me at Fairy Circle, and an education in compassion.
****
Now, I have seen a fairy circle
out in Cal-i-for-ni-ay,
guys in pink and guys in purple;
what more can there be to say?
Now, I don’t pay no nevermind,
which is to say that I don’t care,
but one dude thought he would be kind
and he offered me his chair
(which he wiped down before I sat,
with conspiratorial grin),
and I listened and learned that
these folks in the depths of sin
whom I had long learned to hate
were those with whom Christ shared a plate.
What a lovely yet raw and real poem – thank you for sharing! Always good to hear from you! -C.D.
Oh gosh. Hoping you are improving quickly and feeling better every day! Hugs and prayers are on the way. In peace, S
Ah, thank you, my dear friend. Last week was rough, but I’m able to do more every day now!
Trust you are well and staying cool – happy summer! -C.D.