Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

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Fuel for the Weekend: On Seeing Red

April 15, 2011 By Sandra Heska King

I was never a great fan of red.

Until I studied Rahab’s scarlet cord and learned about the towla worm.

And now my heart skips whenever I see it.

In a bowl of berries.

 

In a cardinal’s tuft.

 

 

In a downy drop.

 

 

In a flicker’s blaze.

 

 

 

In a plume of sumac.

 

 

A bleeding geranium.

 

 

A porcelain rose.

 

 

In a wing’s crescent fluffed.

 

 

Glimpses of glory.

I see it in a melting sun.

 

 

In the curtains and covering of the tabernacle.

And read of it in splattered doorposts, separated sea and thorny tears.

I taste it on the bread and feel it throb within my chest.

It’s embedded in the word “redemption.”

A sacrificial spilling for the spiritually bankrupt.

Stamped across my certificate of debt.

It is finished.

Tetelestai.

Paid in full.

By His blood.

 

In the red,

Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. Psalm 130:7 (NIV)

 

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Filed Under: stories and reflections

Comments

  1. S. Etole says

    April 15, 2011 at 6:58 pm

    I almost did a post on seeing red today, too … yours is great!

    • Sandra says

      April 17, 2011 at 6:21 pm

      Great minds think alike? Thanks. 🙂

  2. laura says

    April 15, 2011 at 7:25 pm

    I am glad you changed your perspective on red because this angle is glorious! Gorgeous photos, Sandy. 🙂

    • Sandra says

      April 17, 2011 at 6:22 pm

      Thanks, Laura.

  3. Nance rosback says

    April 15, 2011 at 11:36 pm

    Really cool!

    • Sandra says

      April 17, 2011 at 6:22 pm

      🙂

  4. Louise says

    April 16, 2011 at 8:51 am

    Powerful words on red Sandra — really beautiful.

    • Sandra says

      April 17, 2011 at 6:22 pm

      Thanks so much, Louise.

  5. Jeanne Damoff says

    April 16, 2011 at 9:10 am

    Gorgeous!

    • Sandra says

      April 17, 2011 at 6:23 pm

      Thanks, Jeanne. You bless me.

  6. Carol J. Garvin says

    April 16, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    This is something I simply *have* to repost, Sandra. Your soul’s awareness is absolutely awesome (as are your photos!).

    • Sandra says

      April 17, 2011 at 6:25 pm

      Awww, Carol. I saw that. Hugs to you.

  7. Judith Robl says

    April 16, 2011 at 8:37 pm

    Beautiful post, beautiful perspective, beautiful pictgures. I’m grateful to Carol Garvin for directing my attention here.

    • Sandra says

      April 17, 2011 at 6:25 pm

      Hi Judith,

      Delighted to have you visit. Thank you.

  8. Melinda Lancaster says

    April 16, 2011 at 11:44 pm

    Love this, Snady. I’ve always loved the color red. A few years ago I read a book called “Echoes of His Presence.” It further explained the scapegoat and of course the towla worm.
    Now I see red & white in a whole new way. 🙂

    • Sandra says

      April 17, 2011 at 6:26 pm

      Oh, goodie! Another book to add to my wish list!

  9. Bindu says

    April 17, 2011 at 1:37 pm

    So beautiful… Wonderful pictures.. for the first time I feel red is so good.

    • Sandra says

      April 17, 2011 at 6:27 pm

      Love having you visit! Thanks.

  10. Carol Ann Hoel says

    April 17, 2011 at 5:53 pm

    Beautiful photos featuring red. I especially love the cardinal and the red winged blackbird. Thank you for sharing. Blessings to you, Sandra…

  11. Sandra says

    April 17, 2011 at 6:27 pm

    Thank you so much, Carol Ann.

  12. Karen R Evans says

    April 19, 2011 at 7:54 am

    Love your photos and words. Red is a special color.

    Hopped over from Careann’s site.

    Blessings

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