From our balcony, we gazed into the color infused, light punctuated hours of the fading year. We flew untethered through space as stars sizzled and crackled before our faces and brilliant quasars throbbed out their stunning light from the farther reaches of Coronado. Light glimmered off the bay an upside-down Milk Way brightening the night from below. Glowing paper orbs of orange and yellow floated lazily through the heavens like planets running their extraterrestrial course. The atmosphere thundered with the glorious spectacle of Panama’s New Year’s fireworks!
Fireworks have always been a joy for me. All the better when they’re free and abundant. Panama and our 19th floor condo have added the pleasure of seeing the display face to face as the shells burst at the height of our balcony. But los fuegos artificiales come is varying degrees of splendor. The higher shells are preceded by the sharp crack of the explosive charge that lifts them to their impressive apogee. Other shells whimper their “why bother” pop and live exactly up to that expectation, hardly making it off the ground. Ah … but occasionally there is a deep, hollow, whispering thump and then you know to look for something spectacular. It is the percussion of a heavy charge lifting a shell to lofty heights, shattering the darkness with ethereal wonder.
If fireworks had feelings, the most beautiful shells would be those most abused in delivery. A fuse ignites the powder at the bottom of the tube in which the shell is tightly packed. At ignition, the shell resists movement for just a millisecond and is subjected to extreme heat and pressure. The fiery trial has its way sending the shell flaming, hurtling toward the heavens. The scorching fire of the blast sets the soul of the projectile ablaze, eventually shattering its shell and giving full vent to its beauty.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
This year when trouble thunders, trust God to take you to new heights of faith and maturity.
