De-Construction

The Brady Student Center at Mizzou is undergoing serious renovation. “Phase One” seems to be complete, with the construction of a new bookstore and offices and whatnot. It appears that “Phase Two”, involving the demolition of some of the old areas of the building, is now underway.

I know this because today, as I was walking across campus, I witnessed a huge "hydraulic excavator" ripping massive chunks of metal off of the building. I paused in my walk momentarily to watch this scene because I don’t frequently see much de-construction, if you will, in the midst of the seemingly endless construction and re-construction on campus. 

There was something oddly intriguing about the sight of a large piece of equipment just tearing into what seemed to be a perfectly good piece of building. And I liked it.

Perhaps it was the novelty of the scene, or perhaps my pleasure in observing this spectacle was due to the sense of relief it provided after a long day. I’m not sure. But, for whatever reason, I found it strangely refreshing.

The experience inspired no particular thought-provoking prose or insightful musings about my world, and that’s okay. It is what it is…a simple moment of enjoyment found in a most surprising circumstance. And I like that. 

Something Beautiful

When it rained on Good Friday, I was pleased.

When it rained on Easter, I was not.

The weather on Friday seemed appropriately matched to the solemn nature of the day. Yet, when I woke up Easter morning, the celebration of the holiday didn’t fit with the gloomy outdoors.

Now, the beautiful thing about being a Christian and knowing why we celebrate Easter is that our joy isn’t dependent on the weather. Still, it seemed as though a bright sunrise would have been far more fitting.

As Bobby and I drove away from Springfield on Sunday afternoon after our time at home, the rain continued…heavily. But, much to our surprise, as we continued along I-44 we noticed a rainbow emerging above the rain-soaked highway.  

The rainbow grew, and grew, and grew, and before we knew it, the faint glimmer of color we had first seen had grown into a full-fledged, arching rainbow, brightly showing through the rain.

As we watched the rainbow transform, I couldn’t help but remember God’s promise after the Genesis flood.

“Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.”

Genesis 9:14-15

God displayed a sign of one of His promises on the day celebrating His fulfilled promise of Christ’s resurrection. Isn’t that just like Him to do?

The Easter rainbow we were so blessed to see reminded me of one more thing. That is, the constant ability of God to turn something stormy into something beautiful.

From a thunderstorm to a rainbow…from a crucifixion to a Savior.

And suddenly, with that realization, the weather on Easter seemed very, very fitting indeed.