On the Five-Minute-Friday prompt, “Red”…

GO!

“Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky at morning…”

So many “red lights” brought me to anchor on my journey—stopped me short and paused me long where I longed to move forward—thwarted (again and again!) my efforts to navigate God’s route for me as I’d (mis?)perceived it.

Morning suns often burned bright behind cloud cover, but then sent the message: “Red sky at morning, sailor take warning…” And warnings proved true.

Now, in life’s evening, I’ve thought to draw back, just rest in the harbor at anchor. It’s time for “retirement,” right? in more ways than one?—time to enjoy a sweeter, closer, quieter time, more often alone with my blessed Beloved, and savor the sunset with Him?

But the sky, it seems, is turning red. At evening. And what does an evening red sky tell a sailor? Just to sit in the harbor, or venture out where boats have lost their light?—where mariners lie marooned by rough waters and rocky shoals and tidal changes and salty oceans of tears?—where needy ones have been hungering long for a delivery, of physical food, or the other kind?

Taking soundings in the sunset…

“When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”    -Matthew 16:2-3

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