Having a "yes" face

This came into my in-box the other day.  There was no source indicated, so it's hard to know whether it's true.  But the moral makes it worth repeating.  Here's the story:

During his term as president, Thomas Jefferson and a group of companions were traveling across the country on horseback. 

They came to a river that had overflowed its banks because of a recent downpour.  The swollen river had already washed the bridge away. Each rider was forced to ford the river on horseback fighting against the swirling currents.  The very real possibility of death threatened each rider, which caused a traveler who was not a part of their group to step aside and watch.  

After several had plunged in and with much difficulty,  barely made it to the other side, the stranger asked President Jefferson if he would ferry him across the river.  The president agreed without hesitation.  The man climbed up behind Jefferson, and shortly thereafter the two of them made it safely to the opposite shore.  After the stranger slid to the ground, one in the group asked him, “Tell me, why did you select the President to take you across?”
 

The man was shocked, admitting he had no idea it was the President who had helped him. He responded simply, “All I know is that on some of their faces was written the word 'No,' and on some of them 'Yes.' His was a 'YES' face."

So what does a "yes" face look like?  Perhaps it's kind, caring.  Perhaps it isn't all wrapped up in itself.  Maybe the body language of a "yes" face says, "How can I help you?"  

Another approach might be that a "yes" face is one that says Yes to God's goodness; yes to Her presence; yes to Her comfort; yes to Her caring.

I'm looking forward to identifying what and who I'm saying "yes" to today!

Safe above the flood

Safe above the floods

Temperatures leaped yesterday from below freezing up into the 50s. There is a lot of ground water.

Neighbors struggle with basements flooding and toilets backing up. Newscasters announce that sewer systems have been overwhelmed with melting snow banks and falling rain. So I am praying for my community.

Does God know or care about our weather? My sense of nature is that God controls the weather, and the weather God creates has no destructive elements. God's weather is a climate of blessing.

God gave Noah plans for building an ark to withstand a great flood coming down the pike. Noah built the ark and safely rode out the storm. I believe this concept of ark is universally available.

We can build arks today, only they are more mental and spiritual. Mary Baker Eddy defines "Ark" in her glossary of Bible terms, in part: “ARK. Safety; the idea, or reflection, of Truth. . . God and man coexistent and eternal. . . ” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures)

My prayer centers on this concept of ark as keeping mankind safe and inseparable from, and guided by, God’s goodness and care.

He/She doesn't afflict or plan evil. Jesus expanded on Noah’s God of rescue by revealing more of His/Her nature as wholly good, a loving God who reveals solutions right where we are faced with problems.

This divine Love delivers us from the flood of bad news that sometimes feels overwhelming.

If there are practical steps we need to take, God will show us what these are, and how to take them.

This Love lifts us above the floods until they abate – much as Noah’s ark floated safely until the rains ended.

Just as the ark and everyone in it remained safe, so we can find our safety and security in God's active Love as well.