A Camera, Fireflies, And Faith

It happened in a flash, digital camera all zipped up in gray case, slipped from his hands, falling into darkness, out of reach. Gone. Down the sewer drain. Stunned expressions painted our faces. Hands that had tried to rescue, eight altogether, remained empty, camera housing vacation pictures lost under ground. Where will it end up? Son unsuccessfully attempted to lift grate. Our gazes focused on offending curb and the gaping open space ready to devour anything spilled. I lifted eyes to baby blue sky, offered up a thanks. Husband had already downloaded his pictures. Thank you! "I'll call and have someone come out and get it, Dad." Son's words encouraged, but this was Sunday. Continuing on with plans for the day, lamenting over sudden loss, husband checking calendar for next Senior Discount Day at Fred Meyer's, a replacement on horizon. The next day, we arrived at son's home, thoughts of missing possession already tucked away in space that says, it's-OK-I'm-over-it-now-it-was-just-a-camera-anyway. Husband took a seat and noticed familiar gray case laying on side table. "You got it back? They came out and found it?" His tone incredulous, genuine surprise lacing his words. Son explained two men arrived and retrieved his camera, just in time they said, imminent rain loomed in weather forecast. Just in time! Those thoughts of new camera poured down the drain. Since arriving back home, popping Aleve, nursing pain and practicing this thanks in all circumstances, I wondered at son's assurance, his faith in salvaging camera from down in dark. Like a firefly dancing on summer's dusky eve, a quote by Corrie Ten Boom skitted across my mind, "Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible." The words, they groan thanks, the trembling hands, they reach out in the darkness. The light, it emits a pulsing hope.









   And the eyes that see impossible, the childlike eyes of faith, they rest upon the beautiful. Where cameras are rescued from sewer, and pain is eclipsed by infinite glory.