by Richelle Hecker

God’s Word is permanent.

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I love the tall decorative grass planted in people’s yards in Colorado. It reminds me of the wheat fields where I grew up in Washington State. When I was little, our family lived one suburban street from acres of wheat. I used to enjoy playing there alone or with friends. I would look out toward the horizon and see rolling hills of gold. I always wanted to climb at least to the next hill, but was never able. The wheat grew too tall for me to see over and the ground was muddy. Those far off hills called to me, but I could not reach them. Our family moved away from there when I was nine.

I returned to the area years later to attend college. One weekend, friends and I visited the wheat fields and attempted to reach my goal. We discovered that it continued to be unattainable on foot. I had hoped that growing bigger and wiser would change the outcome; instead, I realized the futility of the dream itself.

I look at these golden grains of grass lit up by the sun and remember dreams and desires that have come and gone. It could leave me in a state of melancholy to realize that these too will one day disappear. Instead, I experience a wave of peace as these rods of gold blow softly with the wind. I am reminded of God’s Word.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”
Isaiah 40:8 New American Standard Bible

These words bring comfort when things change. I am the kind of person who is tempted to dwell on my past. The positive side is that I analyze things I could have done better. At the same time, I am challenged to overcome the temptation of focusing on things that are obsolete. Time continues to move in a forward direction. The situations and people around us come and go. However, God and His Word remain always true, always constant.  He does not change, so we can grasp onto His Word and remain steady.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado