Why is that "you" seem to find or feel the Lord when you are out of your daily routine? I mean if you live where we do~valley between the Great Smokey's, you feel the Lord when you hear the ocean roar. Today, enjoying a gift at the beach, I walked with jacket, scarf, coffee in hand, yoga pants and hat...I walked past a huge jellyfish that had washed up the beach and a frozen crab, fully intact. These creatures from the sea reminded me that God is divine, the creator of everything. As I walked slowly, sun shining, brisk cold air slapping against my face...I experienced rest. A quiet moment of rest. Ahhh...I felt it.
It had been awhile I internalized. Why is it that I must be here, the place I do not reside...to experience this moment? It doesn't even need to be warm; but I realized the moment and how I missed it.
Refreshment. I thanked God. Smiled and walked on. Pondering this experience, I knew I must put ":pen in hand" and write. Maybe it's like Elijah deep in a cave, no room for anything else but Elijah's will to "give up" and to collapse beneath his fatigue. Rest and nourishment came. Jesus parted heaven to walk this Earth, dirty feet, visiting with ungrateful people, resisting temptation...the angels came and nourished his soul. He must have needed it; if not only to show us how much we NEED Him. Take Hagar, the servant of Sarah. Serve my husband and give him a son; she obeyed. Son is born. Sarah became jealous and exiled Hagar to the desert with son in tow. Forsaken, yes! God appeared, giving hope. Jonah, a strong-willed prophet, willing to proclaim God's message anywhere, well, except to "those folks in Nineveh." God said go. He visited the sea~was thrown up to find himself sitting outside the city under a weed for food and nourishment.
So today, lean in close. Shhh. Quiet. Listen for the Word to become real. Thanks to those who loaned a car for us to travel, gave us "collected change" to spend and gift cards for food...mostly for loving us.
