Our Visible God
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THE STINK LILY
One day, as my sister-in-law, Brenda, and I worked in her mother’s yard in late spring, I spotted a remarkable plant growing close to the side door. I had never seen anything like it! I immediately went to investigate. Its single blossom was huge, with a rippled edge. Its surface was velvety and vivid in hues of pink, red, purple, and blue.
Brenda did not know its name, but she said that it had been there for years. I later asked Brenda’s mother about the beautiful plant. It seems that a friend had given the plant to her husband many years ago. The friend called it a “Stink Plant,” which explained the strange odor I had smelled when I approached it.
Later I researched the mysterious plant, whose odor resembled rotting flesh. I learned that its genus was “Dracunculus” and its species was “Vulgaris.” Other common names were listed, two of which were: “Dragon Lily” and “Stink Lily.” I did not understand how such a stunning plant could be commonly known as a “Stink Lily.”
This started a strange thought process in my brain. Did God make this beautiful plant to be stinky, or did He make the stinky plant to be beautiful? Obviously, He intended it to be both. Then I thought of the skunk, a very photogenic little creature who is extremely “stinky” in order to repel its many enemies. Next I thought of other creatures (some people) whose “stinky” nature attracts, rather than repels. It all seemed to be in the eye of the beholder.
Next thought: Did God include something special in our DNA when He created us in His image that is especially “stinky” to our enemy, the devil, yet endearing to God? I believe that He did! I believe that our love and obedience to our Father is so repulsive to the devil that he flees from our presence when he perceives it. Satan sees beauty only in our sin and disrespect to God. God is saddened by it. God sees our love for Him as beautiful. To the devil our devotion to God acts as a repellant, sending him away like a roaring lion, seeking weaker souls whom he can capture in their sin!
Dear God, help us to be truly beautiful in Your eyes, but real “stinkers” in the devil’s eyes!
“… Your accuser, the devil, is on the prowl like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8 CEB
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About the Book
How do you react to unexpected events in your daily life? Do you panic when devastated, or do you see opportunities for growth? Do personal disasters destroy you, or do they make you stronger? And are your eyes open to behold the wonder and the beauty of life, even as you grieve?
In Our Visible God, author Patricia Aldridge-Hinkle shares her own touching and heartfelt life narrative—a narrative about a very happy woman whose life has been filled with both grief and intense joy and thanksgiving. Her love for God and for others has enabled her to see God’s hand and guidance leading her through tough times with courage and with confidence in her Lord. Through her journey, God teaches her how to praise Him even in her darkest days.
With faith, we can see God revealed both in ordinary and extraordinary situations, and seeing God is not necessarily a supernatural event—though it can be if God chooses to make it one. Most of the time seeing God is an exciting state of mind and an attitude. It can put a smile on our faces and a bounce in our strides as we are led daily into ministry to others, for “blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8).
About the Author
Patricia Aldridge-Hinkle lives in Johnson City, Tennessee, with her husband, Clark, and their two cats, CallieCat and ThomasCat. After a thirty-two year career in public education and forty-plus years in church music, Pat is free to pursue her secret ambition: writing about the ability to see God in our daily lives.