Outside Looking In

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, 

I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Revelations 3:20 (NIV)

The castle commands attention. Look at me! Look at me! Look at my beautifully crafted stone walls, my manicured lawn, my geometrically detailed windows! Did you notice the gateway? A turreted, bridged walk spanning the river? Did you notice the docks and the shops? The yachts and the afternoon cruises? The cameras? The tourists? Located in the heart of this 1000 Island Region, almost directly across the water from riverside hotels and motels with the multi-windowed and balconied views. Look at me!

We stayed on the outside - looking in. And the castle - was on the inside, looking out...

Beautiful. Stunning. Breathtaking. And it has a story... a romantic, sad, love story.

 Beginning in 1900, the Boldt family spent summers in the 1000 Islands at the Boldt Families Wellesley House near Mr. Boldt’s Wellesley Island Farms while 300 workers including stonemasons, carpenters, and artists fashioned the six story, 120 room castle, complete with tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a drawbridge, alster tower (children’s playhouse) and a dove cote. Not a single detail or expense was spared.

In January 1904, tragedy struck. Boldt telegraphed the island and commanded the workers to immediately “stop all construction.” Louise had died suddenly. A broken hearted Boldt could not imagine his dream castle without his beloved. Boldt never returned to the island, leaving behind the structure as a monument of his love.     

(http://www.boldtcastle.com/visitorinfo/index.php/about/)

Metaphor commands my thinking.

I remember when I was on the outside, looking in at the greatest love story our world has ever known. I remember when I allowed my disbelief to overcome my faith. I remember yearning for the peace of green pastures and still waters. I remember the feelings of not-deserving; confusion and turmoil. I remember thinking the distance too great, and the path too difficult; the water was too deep and too wide.

For 73 years, the castle and various stone structures were left to the mercy of the wind, rain, ice, snow and vandals. When the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property in 1977, it was decided that through the use of all net revenues from the castle operation it would be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

Imagine 73 years of neglect.  Imagine the damage to the buildings, to the estate, to the island.

Heart Island. Metaphor.

And now imagine the healing, tender care and meticulous attention. Love on Heart Island.

Jesus healed me. He took my brokenness and made me whole. Once upon a time, I stood on the outside of Him, and looked in. And yet, He is always looking out for the lost, lovingly, with great mercy and grace. Yesterday I was reminded of how very far He has brought me.

He can heal you, too.

Linking with Kelly and Jen

can you imagine?

i saw a music video.  

sound was on, all the words running together 

and the bass thumped thumped from the box, 

through the floor, and drove me.  

the music drove me, 

but the images remained.  

i can't remember the song;

i can't remember the artist.  

it's the images.

flash.  

there's someone talking, 

hands waving, 

body posture all tight 

and wound up.  

bullets from their lips.  

streaking across a room, 

across a road, 

across a field.  

bullets.  

embedded in our words.  

escaping from our lips.  

shot from our mouths.  

flash.  

bullets.

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, 

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 12:18

and i want to see the other side of this video.  

i want to see love in our words.  

embedded.

  

so much love that it escapes 

- tendrils of love escaping from our lips.  

from our mouths.  

like beams of light.  

like falling stars 

- streaking across a room, 

across a road, 

across a field.   

i want to see wisdom 

flowing like cool hands on a hot day.  

like cold, clean water, 

sparkling, 

dancing, 

crisp and refreshing.  

i want to see hope 

like a new leaf, 

unfurling in the springtime.  

like a rosebud, 

unmasking velvety-soft petals in a shy pageant.  

i want to see encouragement 

in rainbow array, 

spilling out in playful waves.

can you imagine?  

God, help me speak rainbows today, not bullets.  

Help my words be words that heal, that bring hope, that love.

Jesus, help me tame my tongue to your service.

Linking With:
Unite
Titus 2 Tuesday

And I Will Heal Them

Peace, peace, to those far and near," says the LORD. "And I will heal them."

Isaiah 57:19

Things happen.  Who knows for what reason - no reason, maybe.  But they happen.  There are so many ways to approach the how's and why's and when's - so many ways to explain, to analyze, to dissect.  In the end, the thing that matters, that makes the most difference, that stays - is not what happened.  What happened is already in the past.  The thing that matters is what happens next.

Nineteen firefighters died in Arizona.  Nineteen young men - the average age was 22.  Some were married with children, some single.  All felt privileged to be part of an elite group - hotshots - firefighters trained to battle in the rugged terrain of Arizona mountains and summer heat.  They were a crew.  A brotherhood.  The best of the best.  It wasn't their first rodeo.  Part of the Prescott fire department, they deployed to wildfires wherever they were called - wherever they were needed.  They believed in what they did - dangerous work to save - lives, property, forests.  Courage and honor - self sacrifice.

But there were twenty.  Twenty men called.  Twenty deployed.  There was protocol - procedure.  Born of years of experience, countless situations, permutations - weather, fire, terrain all factors dictating the next step, the next option.  The twentieth man lives.  He was lookout.  Nineteen went in - with a planned escape - all the pieces in place.  But in a horrifying combination of weather, fire and terrain, the blaze did the unexpected.  The unplanned.  The unforeseen.  The escape was closed out when the lookout radioed his warning - it was too late.  And now he lives.  He is twenty-one years old.

He lives without his brothers.  He lives.  He survives.  Courageous.  Honorable.  Willing.  Today is the memorial for the fallen.  He will be speaking.  I can't imagine what emotions will wash through him as he addresses the crowds - sadness, loss, loneliness.  I wish him peace and healing.  Today I honor him.  

Heavenly Father, give this man your perfect peace and healing.  Comfort him and the families of his crew.  Help him to see his value and worth, to use his experience, to become stronger for having walked with you through that very real Valley.