“He covers the heavens with clouds,  provides rain for the earth,
    and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.” Psalm 147:8 (NLT)

Have you ever lay in the grass on a summer’s day and looked up into the sky? As a child I did this with my sisters. The clouds were in shapes and we would point them out to one another. Of course, by time we actually pointed to the exact cloud we were looking at, it had changed shapes.

Recently Dale and I were going into town. I sat in the passenger seat looking at the sky and the pastoral scenes as we drove. I looked up and there, in the sky, was a whale with water coming out of his spout. Clear as day, perfect in design. I smiled to myself.

We drove a bit farther and I mentioned to Dale what I saw. He bent down and looked, not seeing what I saw. Again, I smiled to myself. God was being playful.

Yes, I know that there are air-streams and wind patterns and clouds each are specific. They have always fascinated me. Each type of cloud has a name. I have learned them once or twice and promptly forgotten the names of each. (apologies to all my science teachers)

I choose to see the sky as our Lord’s art palette. It’s vast and each minute it changes. He paints the sky with vivid colors, He tosses the clouds in formation. He directs the weather. It’s all His handiwork. And He plays with His children. Like balloon art, He forms the clouds. A whale spouting water? Here it is. It’s like He has given me a wink and a smile.

I realized in that moment that I have forgotten how to have that play-time with my Lord. I haven’t spent time looking upward, life has got me looking at the road ahead. Staying in my lane. Don’t go out of the lines. It reduces my horizon. It dims my view.

Will I return to laying in the grass and looking up at clouds? Probably not, but I am once more reminded that life does not have to be all seriousness and business. We have this big, vast world to see the handiwork of our living God. Who knows? He may have a shape in the sky formed just for you.