Feels Like Midnight

Running and I are not friends. There are reasons for this. Good reasons. For now, let’s just say I am anatomically incompatible with the sport. My hubby, however, loves running. So much so, that he will sacrifice sleep to be out pounding the tar. Some days he gets up so early, the birds and worms are all still tucked under their duvets, snoring.

It was one of those mornings about a week ago that I was up with him. The race he'd signed up for started on the road to Stutterheim and ended 42km’s away on the other side of town. I suggested that he run back to fetch his car afterwards but strangely he wasn’t too keen on that idea. (Odd, hey?)  

As we drove to the start, a profound realisation hit me. The clock told me that it was 5am, but if I looked out the window, it might as well have been midnight. The streetlights, the moon... the odd car driving around. It looked, felt and sounded exactly like midnight. Even my bed-missing body agreed. Yet within half an hour, everything changed. The sky drifted from pitch to dappled pastels, bird-noise filled in the silence and the temperature climbed a few degrees. 

I could almost hear Jesus clear his throat... 

When we live hoping for our dreams to be realized... waiting for the publishing contract to land in our inbox, the email from a reader who found transforming Truth in the folds of our words... it often feels like midnight. The darkness hangs thick around us - rejection letters, working a regular job each day when all we want to do is write. Some days one simply cannot see how things could ever change. I remember feeling like fool for hoping for something so far out of reach. 

Here's the thing: 

Today could be your 5am. You could be one email away from your book contract. One sentence away from changing someone's eternal destiny. One word away from throwing a line of hope to someone with nothing left to hold onto.

So don't give up just because it looks like you'll never come out of the dark. 

Don't stop because it feels as if He has forgotten you.

Everything He promised, He will do.

He is faithful and perfect in his faithfulness.  

Dianne J. Wilson is a freelance writer and novelist from East London, South Africa. She is mom to three girls and wife to Scott, who, being the only male other than the St Bernard, is horribly outnumbered and has learnt to dodge flying hormones.

Her first 'official' novel, Finding Mia, releases from Pelican / Harbourlight in June 2015.

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A Gratitude List

Gratitude and thankfulness seem to be severely lacking in our world at times. People expect others to cater to their needs yet often when they do, there is not even a word of thanks. This attitude can even rear its head in the way we treat God. How often have you or I prayed and then forgotten to give God our gratitude, praise and the glory when He answers, often even more wonderfully than we could have imagined?

So today I thought l would share some of the things I am grateful for in my life. I’m grateful for:

 God’s grace that called me into His family and the salvation won for me through Jesus and His death on the cross.

God’s Word which helps me learn more about God, his mighty plan of salvation and what He expects of me.

The privilege of prayer and knowing the value of praying for others, as well as being prayed for.

My husband of over forty years who is still the love of my life, my best friend and the one I enjoy spending time with. I love that we go to church, pray and share God’s word at home together.

Our married adult son and daughter who are walking with the Lord, married to believers, serving the Lord in their own churches and communities and who are teaching their children His ways. What a huge blessing that is.

For the church we are part of and the concern for each other shown in this church. For the feeling of belonging.

For good friends who share our lives and for Christian friends online who share the trials and joys of being a writer.

The place where we live, where God’s creation is so evident. Just yesterday morning as my husband and I went walking, we were blessed with the sight of kangaroos that we share our space with. At present a number of them have joeys in their pouches. They look so cute.

Sweet peas in our garden flower pink and purple. There is nothing like the smell of sweet peas to lift the spirits, so I’m, thankful for the gift of smell. Orchids and moth orchids brighten up our dining area and sweet peas and pansies are on the table in the living area.

The cheerful yellow and orange of browallia in my front garden. This photo is the parent plant of mine given me as a cutting from a friend.

Sunrises and sunsets. Two of my favourite times of day. These photos were taken at a beach near to our home.

The ability to be able to walk and stand and do things after my spinal operation over a year ago. Relief from pain and the outstanding result of the operation which came through prayer and plenty of it as well as the doctor’s skill.

Singing at church, in the car and just about anywhere else. The gift of music.

Sight to see all of the wonders God has made and to be able to read. I can’t imagine a world without books. I’m thankful for writers who write the kinds of books I like to read and for variety in reading.

Imagination. Without imagination and creativity we would have no books, no stories, no art, no craft, inventions and spectacular l buildings. The Sydney Opera House is one of my favourite buildings.

Words to communicate to my loved ones and friends how much they mean to me and words to use in my writing.  Poetry - I love the way words can be used to make different and beautiful patterns of sound and meaning.

Last but by no means least, my football team that just won the 2012 AFL premiership and my husband and I were able to see it and share in the joy. If that’s an amazing experience, and it was, it made me think how much greater it will be when we are around the throne of our Lord and God all praising Him together.

Over to you now. I’d love to hear some of the things you are thankful for.

 Streets on a Map, Dale’s latest novel was published by Ark House Press. Prior to that, Dale has had seven children’s books and Kaleidoscope a collection of poetry published. Many poems in Kaleidoscope have been previously published in Australia’s literary magazines. She has also written bible studies and Sunday school lessons.More information about Dale can be found at www.daleharcombe.com or on her Write and Read with Dale blog http://www.livejournal.com/users/orangedale/