A Glimpse of Paradise

Catching Heaven’s Beauty From Our Earthbound Window

By Sandra Byrd

One afternoon I ran around madly, trying to finish the chores before company arrived. I’d prepped the meals and cleaned the house. The last task was to strip and remake the bed in the guest room. I wanted my friends to feel as comfortable and cared for as possible during their stay, and I arranged my activities with an eye to that. I wanted their visit, though short, to be meaningful and that they should feel well-loved.

When we chose the guest room, we’d selected the bedroom with the best view. In the distance was Puget Sound, and in the far distance, dominating the view, was The Mountain. As I dusted the blinds, I stopped and looked out the window across from the bed.

Paradise.

It was a rare clear day, not a puff of a cloud in the sky, and off in the distance sat Mount Rainier. Everyone around here simply calls it The Mountain, not just because its near relative, Mount St. Helens, who lost her head a few years back and is now much harder to see. No, it’s called The Mountain because it’s the tallest and most majestic. For those who enjoy a relaxing walk and hike, the best part of Mount Rainier is an area called Paradise.

Paradise is often dotted with purple and red alpine flowers, bathed in sunlight, and soothed by cool breezes. To walk its gentle slope is to preview heaven. It’s peaceful and calm but filled with life and beauty and the same time. It’s one of my favorite places to be. Unfortunately, I don’t get to visit Paradise often, but I catch a glimpse of it from my home nearly every week.

Is Paradise accessible in your home?