Kites

The sky was full of them… big ones, little ones, acrobatic ones, animal shaped ones, geometric wonders soaring, hovering and filling the sky with a kaleidoscopic display of color and numinous joy. The recent kite festival was truly festive and a picturesque moment that not only kept cameras clicking but eyes heavenward. Kite is word borrowed from birds of prey that captures not only the sense of flight but a glimpse into the history of these ancient tools and toys. No one is quite sure of their origin whether the Pacific islands or China but it is agreed that their original use was practical. In the islands they were used for fishing or for entreating the gods. In China they served as aids to military endeavors and even for flight behind enemy lines. Even in our own history we remember Benjamin Franklin’s experiment with electricity. However, in all cultures eventually kites were for fun and sport… toys for big and small. And when celebrated the sky becomes a canvas of color and rhythmic motion sparkling with creative energy that harnesses the wind and the human spirit it is tethered to on the ground. At once it is childhood revisited and an armada of skilled aerial puppeteers delighting the audience with tales of adventure and memories of paper, sticks and string.
As I viewed the sky in all its dramatic beauty I thought to myself as I often do when awed by an exceptional sunset or postcard view… “What will it be like when Jesus returns and fills the sky with trumpeting angels and the undeniable display of his presence? Will it be a scene of indescribable beauty or will we cover our eyes blinded by both its brilliance and struck with terror by its power and magnitude? Or will we just simply be consumed with joy and surprise so that we fall down and worship the King’s return?” I don’t expect to have an answer but I’m sure that hot air balloons, kite festivals, the Blue Angels soaring over stadiums and the like are no match to that glorious day. But they are a good reminder that we are connected to the skies… that there is a world beyond. Such reminders reconnect us to the reality that we are more than citizens of earth but that we love looking to the skies because within us is a longing to know the divine and express our spirituality.
So, if you could create a kite that would visually express your connection to the divine… what would it look like? Would it simply be a cross embraced with a heart? Or would it be a tapestry of your hopes and dreams? Or possibly it would be a great banner displaying your family history and your loyalty to the kingdom of God? What would your kite look like? Or maybe the best way to look at it is what a joyous scene it will be when we like kites soar to meet Jesus in the air when he comes again! “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).” -DAN

Variety

My favorite question that my wife asks me is, “How do you spell…?” It’s my favorite because I’ll never be wrong because the answer is always correct because it is how “I” spell the word! It bears the McQuiddy twist, the Danny Earl nuance… the unique stamp of me. It’s a lot like spring time. Everywhere you look there is a colorful explosion of Scotch broom yellow leading the way to a Jackson Pollack canvas of wildflowers along paths and hillsides. On every horizon your eyes are treated with vibrant colors and diversity proclaiming the wonders of the Creator! God, like an artist signing His work, stamps each creation with uniqueness. Solomon surmises… “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end (Ecclesiastes 3:11).”
So, if God so loves diversity and variety… why does man continue to fight against it, demanding that unity is achieved by uniformity and beauty judged by standards? When one embraces that variety is more than just individual differences but rather is the true nature of unity… then, it becomes clear to one where they fit in. They develop their gifts instead of envying the gifts of others. They hone their skills in support of the giftedness of others. They discover that in connectedness is strength of diversity that can never be found in a cookie cutter world that demands sameness and uniformity. Suddenly, one celebrates diversity and learns to appreciate those who are not like him and yet are very much like him. One begins to see the world as God sees the world.
Now, the cynic may rightfully protest that unity cannot exist in a world where there are no standards or mutual concessions that binds all to an agreed standard. Otherwise, it is anarchy. If diversity is the rule of the day then what happens to law, order, standards and most importantly the challenge to excellence. There is no benchmark or goal to achieve… just everyone celebrated for the way they spell the word. They are fooled into believing their uniqueness equals success. Well, yes the cynic could propose such but he would be myopic in his view of excellence and success. And more importantly he would be fooled into believing that success was when everyone looked like him. Success is when the symphony of diversity creates a harmony that enriches everyone. One note may warn of impending danger but a melody surrounded in harmony is the true music of life. Diversity is God’s reminder that something greater than all of us conducts the orchestra and creates the music. Viva la difference! -DAN