Recently my wife Betsy and I traveled up the East Coast passing through Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee before returning to Alabama. We were greeted by astronomical beauty all around us as we passed through the mountains. The colors that surrounded us reminded me of the power of the God of the universe. The fall time of the year brings about the beauty of God as he demonstrates the work of his hand.

Charles Dickens wrote, “We are living in the best of times and the worst of times.” As I traveled along I could not help but be reminded of difficult times this past year for so many around our country and in other parts of the world. Natural disasters were the order of the year from the tsunami in Japan to the tornadoes from Missouri to Alabama. There was death and destruction everywhere. The damages were in the billions of dollars and the loss of life was truly mind-boggling. However in all of that there is sunshine. Spring always follows winter, sunshine always follows the storm. Perhaps you have heard of the song which says, “there is sunshine in my soul today.” In all of the darkness one can find the sunshine.

Another song that always reminds me of how near God always is goes like this, “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how he could love me, a sinner condemned, unclean. How marvelous, how wonderful and my song shall ever be, how marvelous, how wonderful is my Savior's love for me.” (Page 114, "Songs of the Church")