A Bit of Heaven

Sometimes we catch a glimpse of Heaven that reminds us of God's great love and care for His children. To me, these are moments that speak of God's incredible grace; full and undeserved. Today, I experienced  a glimpse of Heaven in the middle of a busy day and in an even busier season of life. God drew near and with a gentle nudge, reminded me that He is here and His Spirit is at work in the lives of His people in Grand Rapids, MI and all over the world.  

The Calvin College Women's Chorale departed from West Michigan this morning for a 12 day journey to South Africa. Grace, my oldest child and a member of Calvin's Women's Chorale, needed a ride to the airport.  I adjusted my schedule so I could see her off as she headed on this adventure.

We arrived at the airport at 9:15 a.m. and Grace jumped into the line to check her luggage.  I found myself among a small group of parents; some I knew and others I did not.  I eyed this eager group of young women, and observed great excitement mingled with anxiety; concerns of acceptable baggage weight, forgotten items including a camera, phone charger and a passport bubbled to the surface as the choir members made their way through the baggage lines.  When the last few girls finally completed the check-in process, Dr. Pearl Shangkuan, the Women's Chorale Choir director, approached our group of lingering parents, and invited us to join the choir for a brief time of prayer before their departure.  

Choir members, chaperones, and parents assembled in a large huddle, near the Security check-point.  I began a mental list, wondering if my daughter had truly packed all she needed for the trip. My nervous thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Dr. Shangkuan reading scripture; Psalm 121:1-4 followed by a request for a pitch from a choir member.  A young woman, standing to my left, gave the choir three pitches and the Calvin College Women's Chorale began to sing.  An amazing sound rose as the words of Mendelssohn's  Lift Thine Eyes, filled the airport terminal. The beauty was profound. It was as though the heavens opened, as the girls' angelic voices proclaimed in unison, 

"Lift thine eyes to the mountains, whence cometh help?
Thy help cometh from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He hath said, thy foot shall not be moved,
thy Keeper will never slumber."  

The power of these words sank into my soul.  Suddenly I realized that the normal airport bustle in our small area in the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, had come to a sudden halt. The only sound, the words of Psalm 121, reminding these young women, their parents and all those blessed to hear it, that help for each of us, comes from the Maker of Heaven and earth.  

I tried to relish the beauty of the scene playing out before me. Tears filled my eyes. This was a sacred moment; we were standing on holy ground!  Workers smiled as they briefly stopped their work and took in the song.  Travelers moving through the area paused to listen. Our circle of parents and choir members was a bit larger joined by several, new, curious faces.  As the music came to an end, tears streamed down my face. 

I looked out at the crowd of Calvin students and thankful parents, blinking back their own tears. Airport employees, travelers passing by and parents clapped. Dr. Shangkuan asked a gentleman accompanying the Women's Chorale to South Africa, to offer a prayer. Those gathered, bowed heads in prayer, joined together by the Spirit of the Living God.  I don't remember all the words offered in that prayer but I do know that my heart was filled with a prayer of joy and thanksgiving, that is beyond words.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!  

Psalm 121:1-4

New King James Version (NKJV)

A Song of Ascents.

121 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
² My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.