I like to walk at the park for multiple reasons, two of which I'll share with you right now. The first, I don't like running. This makes walking much more attractive. Second, when I'm at the park and I'm just walking, I am finally forced to slow down and think and absorb the struggles of the day, the purple-reds of the sunset, the worries I carry between my shoulder blades and temples, the regrets of yesterday. But I've come to realize that something else happens during these three mile moments, when I let it. When I finally just allow myself to focus, I am faced with the reality that despite all the emotions and aches that life hands me, I have been given the overwhelming gift of grace. Sometimes I feel absolutely breathless when confronted with the magnitude of this gift. The creator of these sunsets that inspire me so, the maker of the legs that take me on these walks, the giver of this mind, these fingers, my heart - his love for this one human being is more expansive than an open Oklahoma horizon.
Yes, sometimes it leaves me breathless.
But not often enough. Let's be honest. I should be so breathless that I'm absolutely drowning, suffocating because of this realization. Instead, I wonder how many calories I've burned or what an ex-boyfriend is doing or if I should get a haircut tomorrow. Not bad things. Not good things. Just things. And that's the problem - these things have so much power that God's grace becomes almost an after thought - something I pay homage to in the morning while I scarf down oatmeal and coffee or once a week, three rows from the pulpit. I think you can relate.
God's been using these three mile moments to teach me. He says, "Look at me. I've got this plan. You're a part of it. I'll be happy to clue you in once you slow down." But he doesn't even really say it - just a whisper really, a whisper that brushes my cheek and reminds me that this God who is grand is also gentle.
And I guess that's why those three mile moments are so special. They paint, sing, shout of God's character in a chaotic world that doesn't invite us to walk or think or be. I think God's calling us to live beyond those three mile moments, though. He's ready to push us beyond what we think we can handle and make those moments what drive our every decision. Isn't it ironic that God pushes us to slow down? To let him do his thing? To allow him to be God? Isn't it ludicrous that we don't let him? Isn't it baffling that he's willing to wait?
I really appreciated this post, Sarah. What a "perfect-timing" kind of post! It reminds me of the saying, "Let go, and let God!"
ReplyDeletesomething can be said about slowing down. In creation God took a rest.. one day..a whole day.. i have done it.. and it is so hard.I feel like things are piling up on me so i am so worried about the next day i am not even relaxing. I when i take the day off.. i really need to shut my phone off..leave my house or stay there and not do any work.. leave the dishes dirty.. the bed unmade.. the bathrooms not spotless..the world will go on.. My biggest problem is to slow down. I started running and so that has helped me immensely because i can as emily says.. "Let go, and let God".. i let the troubles, worries, cares, concerns, just roll off my back. And when we allow him to be God we invite this special relationship, this moment(s) in time that truly take our breath away and with each inhale we take in his spirit and his life that he tries so hard for us to understand to get "it" to. I does baffle me that he is so patient with me.. when i am running around thinking of all the things i could be doing and not doing and i hear that soft, still voice. saying...stop..be still and know that i am God...and just shut off the rest of the world..praise God for that..Praise God...thank you LORD.. tomorrow i will take the day off.. i will watch the sunset.. turn off my phone and just be and let him come into my life.. Thank you Sarah..beautiful...absolutely beautiful.. this may soon become my therapy as well..
ReplyDeleteEmily - I'm so glad you enjoyed the post :) Letting go and letting God is definitely not always easy to do. I'm sure glad he puts up with my stubbornness.
ReplyDeleteJeremy - that's a really good point. I find myself doing the same thing. Even when I should be relaxing and resting in him. Even when I have every opportunity to do so, I allow myself to be distracted by the vibration of a cell phone or music playing while I work. Stillness and listening and waiting and just being with God is definitely a practice - an art - that takes time to cultivate, which is ironic. The creator of the universe wants me to spend time with him, but I can't be bothered? This thought baffles me. What an amazing amount of grace and patience he has!