Is That Thing Laughing at Me?

God is in the details...and the smiles

Do you ever have times of wondering if you are going a bit crazy? You know…those moments when you read a billboard a tad too quick and misread a word and do a double take? Or you are in the middle of a long drive and see something on the side of the road near the tree line and wonder if that is a black bear, only to get closer and find a black plastic trash bag? Okay - maybe it’s just me.

Well, there are times I find little surprises that have me blinking and checking again only to be delighted and laughing. A friend of mine sees hearts in rocks, clouds, leaves, and wood patterns. At first glance, one might miss those little things. But she seems to find them in everyday places and so pays attention in those moments. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe said, “God is in the details.” I almost missed a little detail recently - one that captured my attention and had me remembering other times I had seen something similar.

The most recent was on a hike with my daughter in Tennessee, a little ways off I-40. Having taken a brief hike to a waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I was feeling good about getting in some steps. As we were making our way back to the visitor center I saw an odd shape in a stump. Wait. Was that stump smiling at me? This hike was not that long nor strenuous enough to be causing hallucinations. I went back, if nothing else to ensure I wasn’t losing my mind. But there it was - a goofy grinning face created over years of interior decay in the wood. And in just a way that, despite the tree being felled some time ago and sawed away, it had a smile to offer passersby who took a moment to notice. The sunny day really brought it to life.

I was grateful for the smile and as I walked on I recalled a couple more instances when unexpected smiles brightened my day. The first was while I was peeling potatoes for soup years ago. As I pulled one row away a brown spot appeared along with a line below. The next pull of the peeler revealed another spot and more of the line below. I paused as a perfectly formed smiley face looked back at me. I laughed out loud at the unexpected sight.

Of course I took a picture! Who would have believed me?! And it was a perfect image to advertise the upcoming potato bar dinner at church. Some have suspected I doctored the image a bit, but it is completely unedited, just as it appeared after the peeler revealed the potato’s treasure at my kitchen sink. And this picture brings me a smile every time it pops up on my social media memories. I tagged the line, “Even our potatoes can’t help smiling about our world famous potato bar!”

Two years ago I was sitting in my office looking at my desk - the little of it I could see as usual. A small red binder clip was looking at me. No kidding - it seemed to be mocking me. The day had held some tough conversations, and I was not in the mood to be mocked. I picked it up and looked at it a bit more closely. After some consideration I flipped the silver clips down. And at that moment I had to laugh because the clip was now smiling - almost laughing.

A simple move had changed my whole outlook and served to remind me to consider various perspectives in a tough season. My attitude took a delightful turn and I thanked God for the simple and unexpected reminder that a smile can change a room.

I hope today will bring you a moment of double takes and seeing unexpected reminders of God in the details - as my friend does with hearts and apparently I now do with smiles. I would love to hear about ways you see glimpses of God in the little details of life.

A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face. Proverbs 15:13 (The Message)

More for the journey…

Make a list of things that make your heart cheerful and bring a smile to your face.

Go outside and search for shapes and details in unexpected places. Tree bark is a perfect place for this, as are clouds. Go take a look and see what is revealed. Then be open to a phrase, insight, or line of scripture that might come to mind that can be an encouragement for your day.

Give God thanks for being in the details of the everyday.