“Patches of Godlight”

Dear Reader:

I being in the way, the Lord led me. —Genesis 24:27 (kjv)

Have you ever been in a place of confusion only to encounter a startling touch of God’s reality? Maybe it came from an insight from God’s Word or through a prompting of the Spirit in prayer. Or perhaps it was an unexpected “coincidence” that gave you direction just when you needed it.

In Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer, C. S. Lewis refers to this kind of phenomenon as “patches of Godlight.” “Any patch of sunlight in a wood will show you something about the sun which you could never get from reading books on astronomy. These pure and spontaneous pleasures are ‘patches of Godlight’ in the woods of our experience.”

Abram’s servant was sent to find an appropriate bride for Isaac the son of promise. If anyone was in need of a “patch of Godlight,” it was this conscientious servant. After a long journey and with fears of making a mistake, the servant asked for God’s leading. Later he joyously reported to his master:  “I being in the way, the Lord led me” (Genesis 24:27). Do you need God’s touch and leading? 

In your faith journey today, watch for “patches of Godlight.”

*(Resource: A Day with C.S. Lewis…”Patches of Godlight” ( Posted by drfishercsl)

For Further Reading: Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer by C. S. Lewis

*Because there was so much interest in the quotes Father Tim used in the fictitious Mitford Series….Jan Karon created a book to look like Father Tim’s handwriting/doodling…a journal where he copied quotes from the writings of such writers as….Mark Twain and C.S. Lewis to Aristophanes and St. Paul.

One of these caught my attention…”Patches of Godlight” because I love finding these patches early in the morning and late in the evening in the garden.

And I can certainly relate to being in the way for God to accomplish what he wants me to do. Sometimes I feel clueless…like the early morning and late evening shadows, but other times I see the light falling and reflecting around me….like it did on Bliss, the statue, the other day…and then I sense that knowingly or unknowingly “I will be a blessing to someone today” or even a receiver from another.”

My yellow jessamine vine has fallen off the side of the pottery shed…it got too heavy and fell. It has been lying on the ground in a large bundle. This just would not do….here I am the retired SC HIstory teacher and my state flower had fallen. I felt like the symbolism in getting one’s flag back up…the yellow jessamine must be restored.  Michael was cutting the grass yesterday (so while I had help)  I decided to find something at Home Depot we could prop up against brick wall and then let the weight of the vine secure it.

 

The “ladder looking trellis” was deceivingly light and while I was carrying it to my car in the Home Depot parking lot I must have had four people asking me if they could help…I just shook my head and smiled…it felt great to feel like I could hold something that looked impressively heavy but wasn’t…for the first time in a long time…I felt really “strong” again!

 

I was almost at my car when another gentleman asked if he could at least help me get the “trellis”  inside the car…I grinned and said certainly. I then handed the trellis ladder over to him and he grinned back… surprised at its lightness too…“It did look impressive he said and winked…I will never tell the secret.”

Getting the yellow jessamine vine up and looped over the ladder was the hardest part (I was glad that Michael was there for that)…the vine was heavier than the trellis by far.

So now I have a special “Patch of Godlight” on the corner of the potting shed….helped there by God’s plan and kindness shown.

Here are some other favorite ‘patches of Godlight’ in the garden….

*Remember I showed you what I thought was a long-leaf hydrangea and I thought it had a “baby” behind it….well guess what…both of them are sassafras plants….they are growing over and under my neighbor’s fence and the citrusy smell is divine. Sassafras and confederate jasmine….my goodness…I love living in the South!

I planted the last of the Gazanias in two long planters by the fence…fingers crossed they will acclimate and do well. Vickie and my co-op rose bush is bigger and more breath-taking than ever!

I honestly can’t tell “Big Red, Jr.” from dad now….tall, strong, and happily blooming away on the beloved white bench on the front porch.

So until tomorrow…May we all take time to find our “patches of Godlight”….living our lives with God’s assistance and compass.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*I know you didn’t forget ….May Day….the first of May…you can now go barefooting to your heart’s content. “Little Tink and “Little Bunny” have become fast friends and pose in front of a ‘Lily of the Valley” (flower of May) card in the making. Shout “RABBIT first thing today!” And have a beautiful, wonderful month!

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”
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4 Responses to “Patches of Godlight”

  1. bcparkison says:

    If you ever want to roast a whole pig sassafras poles are a must . And aren’t we proud of
    Big Red Jr.?Goodness….everything is a God sent blessing.

  2. Deb says:

    When I was about 8 years old I found a sassafras plant. My told me to dig it up and then cut thecroot and bring it to her. She said she’d make me sassafras tea. I did that and she washed and cut up the roots and boiled them. She poured the tea into a cup and put cream and sugar in it. It smelled good, but I wasn’t impressed with the taste
    I can say, I’ve had sassafras tea, though!

    • Becky Dingle says:

      I am not a big tea person so doubt that sassafras tea would do much for me either….but I like the history and the sweet smell behind this plant….it is wonderful enjoying the citrus like tinge in the air while working in the garden!

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