As I set the dish washing soap down on the counter, a small cluster of bubbles burst from the open top. Playfully they danced upward in front of the window. And I didn’t just smile; I giggled.
Memories associated with bubbles floated through my mind as I watched those drifting bubbles—memories of our children, and now our granddaughter–gleefully capturing bubbles that family members provided for their popping pleasure. As they grew older, the children took on the challenge of slow and steady blowing, to make the biggest bubbles possible.
But it’s just a pocket of air surrounded by a film of soap. Why is it that a bubble grabs our attention?
First, no one can refute their beauty:
- Bubbles reflect light and sparkle with iridescence.
- Bubbles refract light into brilliant pastel hues. Ever-changing ribbons of color pirouette over the surface in rainbow swirls.
- Bubbles gracefully glide across space, undulating on the air currents.
Each of these aspects can also draw attention to another form of beauty: the beauty of the Lord.
(“One thing I ask of the Lord,
this is what I seek: …
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.”
–Psalm 27:4)
But what does the beauty of bubbles (of all things) have to do with God?
Bubbles remind me that:
1) God is light (1 John 1:5). Ezekiel saw him “as if full of fire…Brilliant light surrounds him” (Ezekiel 1:27). “The Lord is my light” is also a symbolic statement, referring to his truth and goodness.
2) The refraction of light into glorious colors is reminiscent of the first rainbow (Genesis 9:15-17). God told Noah that never again would he send a flood to destroy all life on earth. The rainbow was a sign of this promise. To this day, a rainbow—even a rainbow on a bubble—is a reminder that God keeps his promises.
3) The grace with which bubbles move brings to mind the grace of God. He, too, moves in gentle ways within our spirits, like a loving shepherd tenderly gathering the lambs to his heart (Isaiah 40:11).
Perhaps God’s whole intention for creating bubbles (and many other phenomenon in nature) was to grab our attention and turn our thoughts to him.
So the next time bubbles escape from the bottle of the dish soap, you may wish to send up a prayer of praise, as they merrily bob through the air:
You are resplendent with light, O God (Psalm 76:4)!
You are faithful to all your promises (Psalm 145:13c)!
You are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger,
abounding in love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6)!
But why wait for serendipity bubbles? Take some of that dish soap and create your own!
Revel in the sparkling light, the whirling rainbows, the graceful dance…
…and worship!
(photo credits: www.flickr.com; http://www.pixabay.com; www.dailyverses.net; wikimedia.com; http://www.pixabay.com.)
From the Inside Out 
I love this post! Even simple things like a soap bubble remind us that God’s promises are true!
Great post, Nancy!
Thank you, Bill! It’s a wonderful feeling to be blessed with an ethereal moment in the midst of everyday chores!
On Saturday, we were with our family. When the Dad stopped for gas, Elianna, 7, put down the window and started blowing bubbles. When her brother, 10, asked why she was doing it, I said, “Because they’re beautiful”. Goes along with your story and what a great way to pass the time. Adults need to play more often.
Elianna already understands: the simple pleasures of life are God-given gifts, meant for us to enjoy. Thank you for sharing YOUR story, Grace!
Nancy, I love your analogies. Great reminder. Thank you!
Thank you, Ruth! I’m delighted you found the post meaningful.
Love the post! A wonderful reminder of how God is in ALL things around us…may we be attentive to him in ALL that we do.
I will be sharing this on my Thoughts From The Porch Facebook page.
Have a blessed week!
April
I am honored you’re going to share this post on your Facebook page. Thank you! My week has already begun on a blessed note–praise God!
Amazing to find the simplest ways to reflect on God’s character. Thank you.
…And reflection results in an uplifted spirit, because He’s not only God of the universe, but the loving, gracious Father to each of his children! Thank you for stopping by, Rita.
Oh the joy of bubbles! I agree that many of God’s creations capture our attention. Almost daily the sunset reminds me of how awesome our God is! Love the bubble insights!
Tresa
Oh, yes–sunsets! Glorious reminders of God’s power and creativity.
‘So glad you enjoyed the bubble-thoughts! Thank you for stopping by, Tresa.
What a great story about bubbles.
Thank you, Laura!
The bubble in your last picture picks up and adds to the beauty of God’s wonderful creation of flowers. A double blessing… I have begun to see more of God’s incomparable artistry in nature this past year… A snowflake (each one unique), a scene of fall leaves, (each leaf from a single tree with different colors and different veins running through it); just as He made each of us unique individuals but still in his own Image! Just image our surroundings in Heaven as they reflect the beauty of Christ!
Oh, my — “our surroundings in heaven, reflecting the beauty of Christ!” Now there’s a statement to stretch the imagination! I try to picture The Light reflecting and refracting off golden streets and jeweled gates and glories we can’t even conceive of here on earth. Talk about wide-eyed wonder! Thank you for your thought-provoking comments, Cheri.