Just a Closer Walk with Thee

I decided to step it up a bit this morning and try a walk/run combination. My goal was to accomplish more benefit from my exercise routine in a shorter amount of time and then head to my office to finish a few details for Sunday. Well, as the saying goes from the poem, To a Mouse by Robert Burns, "the best laid plans of mice and men."


Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!
Plain and simply stated:
But little Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes of mice and men
Go often askew,
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!


I headed out the door with my cell phone, iPod all set with my Spanish Lessons, and with the determination to get into some serious shape! Everything was going wonderfully. I was repeating Spanish phrases and running at the time same. What an accomplishment, this is exactly what I had planned. I stopped for just a moment and felt incredible pain in my shins. I was able to rest on a bench under a tree in a town home community nearby. I was massaging my legs and hoping that I would be able to stand back up and make the walk back home. Suddenly, it hit me. Forget the plans because God is begging to meet with me right here, right now. My little section of the world became a sanctuary. How beautiful, I thought to myself. I began to sense the presence of God with me. I noticed the aged bark of tree and basked in the goodness of a God who is my strong tower and how he has been faithful through the ages. A yellow butterfly passed by with such grace and beauty. I was reminded of the new life I have in Christ and how grateful I am for His continual transformation of my life. I was overwhelmed with promised joy. I am thankful that God stopped me and even thankful for the pain in my shins. After I enjoyed this time with my God for a while, I continued on way home. My run/walk combination became a steady walk. "Just a closer walk with thee." I noticed my creator and spent the remainder of my time with Him. I found Him everywhere I set my gaze. I clicked a few photos with my phone so that I will never forget my encounter with the Living God on bench, in the middle of a town home community, on an ordinary Friday morning. My plans for the rest of the day are as follows: chase hard after Christ, knowing full well that all else needed will be given to me.  Have a blessed weekend friends.

Seasonal Confusion

What an incredible winter day.  As I set my gaze upon my backyard, I can't help but take in the beauty of the day.  The sky is blue, the sun is shining and the temperature is an unusually warm 60 degrees on this Valentine's Day.   From the comfort of my Adirondack chair, I can see that the lawn remains covered with a blanket of white snow.  The covered area is receding as the rays of the sun reflect its warmth upon it.   It is a bit odd to sit in the warm sun, watch squirrels frolic together, listen to the sound of the remaining fallen leaves crackle against the ground in the wind and behold the sight of budding Bradford Pear trees --- all in one sitting in the middle of February. How awesome is our God?  This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it!  I must say, however, I am feeling a little seasonal confusion.

As I sit in the quiet of my sweet sabbath Monday, I am beginning to wonder which season I most associate with at the moment.   Is this is a season of spring, summer, winter or autumn in my faith walk and relationship with God?    If I can be quiet and still enough to take notice of the little things such as the sound of blowing leaves or a few squirrels scampering about the trees, might today be a good day to take notice of the subtleties occurring in my life.  

We often say things like, "I can't believe it's autumn already.  Where did the summer go?"   Or, we might say, I can't believe it's Christmas, where did the autumn go?"     Seasons seem to change so quickly, but subtle changes are happening all the while.   It is a process which takes time, with God's beautiful and perfect design.   We simply fail to take notice of the subtleties taking place all around us.     I think the same holds true for each one of us.   Little behaviors and habits slip in, or unhealthy choices begin to slowly infiltrate our lives.  All of sudden we find ourselves far away from God, in unhealthy relationships, using our tongues in ways we shouldn't or failing to care for own health.   Each of us can name our own undesired outcome.  Seasons do change, but there are minute changes happening all of the time which eventually bring us into an entirely new season.

As I sit here in the sun, listening to the wind chimes blow in the wind I feel an overwhelming sense of peace and comfort that God intends for me to feel seasonal confusion.    God is asking me to die to self each and everyday. Some habits and choices need a funeral in my life which are hindering what God wants to do in me.  He is calling me to a season of winter.   God is calling me to delight in Him, find my joy in Him, and crawl up in His lap under a tree and rest.  God is calling me to summer.    God is calling me to a time of preparation, self-examination, and to study His Word.   He is calling me to change and to allow Him to do some pruning and refining in my life.  Perhaps some leaves need to fall or change to a brilliant gold color.   God is calling me to a season of fall.   God is calling me to something new each and every day.  God is calling me to be as a budding flower and to be open to something new and beautiful He wants to do in and through me.   He wants to make all things new so that the  beautify of Christ can be seen and known.   God is calling me to spring.

February 14, 2011 is the perfect day.    What may appear as seasonal confusion is in actuality a beautiful reminder of the wonderful work God wants to do in our lives.   I think I'll sit here a while and take notice of the subtleties God brings to my mind.    "Search me O Lord, and mold me to reflect the beauty of Your Son in all seasons.   Amen."