Field of Delight

Life seemed to be unraveling. Everything we had counted on for our livelihood was gone. The music industry was rapidly changing and we couldn't seem to reinvent fast enough . . . and we didn't have the energy anyway. We were weary to the bone. It felt like we were sinking in quicksand; everything we had worked so hard for was about to slip through our fingers.  We were fighting all the "dis" words: dis-couragement, dis-appointment, dis-illusionment. Never in a million years could we have ever imagined that what was about to happen would be the most unique, beautiful and unexpected therapy to lift us out of the pit, into a place of wonder and awe.

A Few Fireflies
It was particularly hot and dry in late May that year, and this seemed to mirror the heat that had been turned up in our lives. We were taking our usual route home, which just happens to be on very dark, winding roads in the country. In the daytime, the scenery is beautiful . . . rolling green hills and fertile farmland. But at night, it's pitch dark. As we drove, the only thing visible was the twinkling of a few fireflies in the fields. Suddenly, my husband stopped the car in the middle of the road and turned out the head lights. He does this sometimes, just to see how dark it 'really' is, and it always makes me nervous. Even though there were no cars coming, I was nervous and getting agitated.

A Road Less Traveled
As our eyes adjusted to the pitch-like darkness, we noticed that there weren't just a few fireflies glowing in the field around us, but it seemed there were millions of them . . swirling in what looked like a choreographed ballet. In the distance a car was approaching, so we pulled over to the side of the road and indulged ourselves in this spectacular, magical light show of nature. Every now and then, a car would go roaring by, its occupants completely oblivious to this magnificent, dazzling display of nature at it's finest. We were sad for those who couldn't see, even though they had the same opportunity. They were on the same road, but were in such a hurry they missed the magic. It was so spectacular that we decided to go down a road less traveled.

We Didn't Want the Magic To End
We rolled down our windows and, to our delight, we were overcome with the fragrance of honeysuckle! For me, this brought back precious memories from my childhood . . of being at my grandmother's with my cousins, feasting on the honeysuckle's sweet nectar on a warm summer's eve. So we pulled over to the edge of a field, rolled down our windows, picked honeysuckle, then played our favorite CD and cranked up the volume. 

All at once we entered into a world that was totally magical!

We sensed that this was a moment designed by God to let us know that we were not forgotten; that no matter how crazy our circumstances, He was still choreographing them - just like the firefly dance all around us. He was speaking through nature, through a still small voice and we were encouraged. It felt as though we were awakening from a long slumber . . .

We were reluctant to leave the "firefly field"  . . .  we didn't want the magic to end,  but we vowed that we would return. And return we did . . . night after night for those few weeks the fireflies were performing. We would bring friends. We'd tell them we had a "surprise" for them, then pile in our car and take off down the back country roads. They would ask us where we were taking them, to which we would eagerly reply, "Just you wait!"

Nashville's Best Kept Secret
Our little SUV suddenly became the "magical mystery tour bus.". We would take late night picnics to our "firefly field" . . . complete with quilt and our favorite music. I think our tour guests thought we were out of our minds. But they were just as delighted as we had been that first evening we made the discovery of what we called "Nashville's Best-kept Secret!" Some nights it seemed that the fields were an ocean and the fireflies were illumined in rolling waves, the timing of their glow perfectly synchronized to the music. Other nights, it was as if the fields had been decorated for Christmas . . . every tree full of twinkling lights. There in that field that summer, we prayed, we wept , and giggled like little children. And we most definitely emerged from that wilderness, transformed by the power of nature -by something so unexpected.

Within view of the masses, the miracle of the fireflies was noticed by only a few.  To those who were willing to slow down and stare into the darkness long enough to see the flickering lights.

For all who are  needing encouragement, there are wonders awaiting in unexpected places.

God is always speaking. So if  you're life is unraveling and  darkness is closing in, don't be afraid. Just hold on . . . there's bound to be a 'field of delight' awaiting you, somewhere just beyond your view.  Wait quietly until you see a flicker of light in the midst of the darkness.