Heaven Everywhere

One morning I caught a headline predicting the Governor of Minnesota is likely to shut down all youth sports for the rest of fall and start of winter.

I’ll admit to stewing about it for some time. The news ruined my morning. I was angry, frustrated, and sad. My heart broke for those coaches and athletes that pour so much into their sport and get so much good from it.

Then over my earbud came a song I’ve heard dozens of times-- Heaven Everywhere by Francesca Battistelli. This time, it caught me differently because of the negative attitude I had:

“…maybe we're just slightly more aware
There's a little bit of heaven everywhere

It's the smile on a man who has finally found hope
It's the tears of a mother whose child has come home
It's the joy that we feel and the love that we share
There's a little bit of heaven everywhere”

Amidst all of the filth in the world around us, the conflict, the evil, and the hurt, there are glimpses of Heaven. I’ve noticed that what I look for, I find. If I’m looking for reasons to be disappointed, hurt, or frustrated, I’ll find them. And when I’m looking for glimpses of hope, goodness. and kindness, I’ll find them, too. If that’s true, why would I not always be on the lookout for the things God would have me see that generate hope, positivity, and good energy?

That’s my challenge to you today: look around and see what God would have you see to put a smile on your face, but more importantly, to put a smile in your heart. More importantly, be that person that puts a smile in the heart of someone else today.