And Yet...

I took this picture with my cell phone while on a walk after dinner. It doesn't begin to do justice to the mountains or the sky I saw. While the sun slowly set, I marveled over each new color change, and each ray shooting out from under the clouds. I saw bold colors, then a bright golden disk where the sun slipped behind the mountains, and finally, God's watercolor painting framing the darkened peaks in the distance.

One of Sunday's scripture readings was from 2 Corinthians 6. Paul concludes his list of hardships encountered by writing, "...having nothing, and yet possessing everything."

You can drive an old car, wear out-of-date clothes, pine for new flooring in the kitchen, and pray that the hot water heater hangs in there for one more year. Yet, no matter who you are, you can walk outside your door and see the same sky and the same sunset as the richest person in town. But that's not even the best part. We can marvel at God's grace and mercy to us while we were yet sinners.

We have nothing, and yet possess everything!