A Glimpse of Glory

Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Eli'jah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Luke 9:30-32

Whenever I read the story of the transfiguration, I can't help but think about the vision of God's love and glory that Peter and his sleepy companions saw. How God gave them a momentary view of love fulfilled, love complete, a snapshot of love's eternity. I can help but thinking about my sister Pegi, who died almost 20 years ago. God gave me a glimpse of love's eternal beauty in her dying days. She was always a beauty. Ravaged by cancer and the treatments she received, she had no hair. but her face lit up as she smiled and I saw a glimpse of God's face in her, a shining radiance that promised me that I was not alone, even in grief. Her face comes to mind still, whenever I ponder the vastness of God's love and our limited mortal vision. There are no words to express such a magnificent capacity of love.

Today, on this Valentine's Day 2010, tell as many people as you can about the love you have for them. For the people that God has given us are our glimpses of God's face. They are our insight into love that continues no matter how awful and challenging our lives become. When their faces come to mind, we know we can bear anything. And we know God is in the midst of us. So, where ever you are, give thanks for the love you have received. It is eternal, steadily growing, un-ravished by time, weather or tides. God is love, and in the people that love us, despite ourselves and because of ourselves, also show us the eternal and present face of God. Happy Valentine's Day.