...and there is so much to see always, things too big to take in all at once, things so small as hardly to be noticed. And though they may well come by accident, these moments of our seeing, I choose to believe that it is by no means by accident when they open our hearts as well as our eyes. A crazy, holy grace I have called it. Crazy because whoever could have predicted it? Who can ever foresee the crazy how and when and where of a grace that wells up out of the lostness and pain of the world and of our own inner worlds? And holy because these moments of grace come ultimately from farther away than Oz and deeper down than doom, holy because they heal and hallow.~ Frederick Buechner (From The Sacred Journey)

The early morning sky shone blue through the blinds. I thought of how a blue sky always calms me, never fails to cheer me, symbolizes grace for me. I search long and hard for grace signals. My sister is the one who taught me about the "signal graces." She says, "the signal graces are a noticeable gift from God." Then an AI explanation goes on to say that they are often described as a divine "God-incidence"--one that serves as a clear, tangible "sign" or message. It's a way for God to provide guidance, consolation, or affirmation during someone's spiritual journey. These graces are not just ordinary blessings but manifest as seemingly coincidental events or profound interior feelings that are meaningful and edifying to the individual.

These signal graces do manifest, surprising me at times.

A few days ago, I crossed one of the highest bridges in the Lowcountry. As I drove, I looked in awe as the vast landscape, the elaborate geography, spread before me. Rays of light spangled over open waters, trees lined the terrain in splashes of green. Then later as I read the Bible I came upon Psalm 29:3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the God of glory thunders. That's what I sensed as I drove over the bridge and viewed the brilliant, cobalt waters. I believe my perspective at the top of the bridge was a signal grace from God meant to encourage me, to console me that His voice can be heard in many ways, a still, small whisper, or like a thunder clap that shouts, "I'm strong and mighty. I see you and hear you and strengthen you. The treasure of My wisdom is yours."

Then another morning, I looked out my window and two white egrets were feeding at the pond behind our house. They don't come often. When they do, I always think they are like a message from God. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow, reap, or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 26:6-7) 

My daughter texted me a message the same day I saw the elegant, white birds: I wanted to tell you about this morning with the horses. I got to brush a horse named Chewy as in Chewbacca. He was recovering from a serious illness, so was really skinny and couldn't breathe right. I think he liked getting brushed. He seemed happy. I fed him a bunch of carrots and prayed over him. I'm going to go back and brush him and pray for him again. The owner didn't ask me to, but I brushed his mane out as well. It was really like having all of those My Little Ponies when I was little. I was thinking of you.