It is now the beginning of a New Year … one filled with fresh promises… new hopes… new dreams… new resolutions. I have many new hopes… to write more… to laugh more… to sing more… to play more… to slow down and listen more…
Jesus has so many gifts and surprises for us, but oftentimes we don’t see them because our busy-ness gets in the way, and we don’t take the time to really listen.
Nathaniel Hawthorne reminds us how joy can be ours…
“Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down gently, may alight upon you.”
The lesson of being still was brought home to me in a very powerful way when I hurt myself in a serious fall and wound up in a wheelchair with two injured ankles.
The first floral arrangement that arrived at my home was from a friend who wrote on her card, “And God said, ‘Carol, take time to slow down and smell the flowers.’ And Carol said, ‘God, I don’t have time.’ And God said, ‘Now you do!’ “
I don’t want to injure myself again to be taught the importance of slowing down and just being. So I try to take extra time to enjoy moments… to linger a little bit longer… to enjoy God’s magical world.
Last week, I decided to drive to Cape Cod Bay. I had heard it was frozen and a magnificent sight to see. I parked my car and looked out at the amazing frozen bay … beautiful with its ice formations along the shore. I decided to stay and enjoy the sight a little more, so I slowly walked down to the icy shoreline.
I noticed a little touch of blue and yellow in the water, and I thought, “It can’t be!” As I kept on walking, I saw that RIGHT in front of me was a beautiful double buoy that had ripped itself free of its mooring and lodged itself in between chunks of ice. I was so excited I could hardly contain myself!
What a totally unexpected surprise.
In the quiet stillness of my morning, Jesus had a beautiful gift for me. I walked gingerly over the ice to reach the buoy’s wooden handle.
As I rescued the buoy from its icy prison, I thought- had I been in a rush that day, I would have missed my unexpected surprise. By taking a few more minutes out of my day to listen and be still, I was now going home with another treasure to hang on my outdoor shower.
What does the Lord have in store for me today?
“Be still and know that I am God. I’m right here by your side.”
Psalm 46:10
May I learn to still my body… my mind… and my spirit… and wait for the Lord to speak. His surprises and blessings are endless.
