Be Still...

I am probably the world's worst person at being still. Even in moments when life is not hurried, I get busy distracting myself with a book, the computer, or by texting/calling friends. This afternoon was no different. After Sunday dinner and spending some time on the computer I decided to get some exercise. So I donned my tennis shoes, grabbed my i-pod, and headed out the door for a brisk walk in the Autumn air. Only today was different. As I crossed the highway and began pumping down my favorite gravel road, suddenly my music seemed like so much noise, and my heart-pounding pace seemed much too rushed. Something seemed to say, "Slow down, and enjoy the beauty of this day." So I did. I pulled out my ear-buds, stuck my i-pod in my pocket, and slowed my calorie-burning pace down to a leisurely stroll. And I listened...and watched...and absorbed...and oh the delightful things I discovered.

I heard the soft crunch of gravel under my shoes. I felt a gentle breeze, free from the humidity of summer and carrying a hint of the chill of winter, blow across my face and cause the dry cornstalks in the field beside me to rustle. I listened to the incessant buzz of cicadas in the trees, and the musical chirp of crickets in the grass. I watched tiny black beetles scurry across the road, saw a fuzzy brown caterpillar inch its way along, and observed a large, gangly grasshopper thump its way home. I saw small, yellow butterflies dance in midair, and swoop to nearly touch my face. I stopped to pick some bright purple clover and a little white wildflower resembling a miniature daisy. I picked up an acorn that fell from a tree unto the road beside me and felt its smooth, round surface. I looked up to see tall trees with multi-colored leaves silhouetted against a bright blue sky. And as I walked, and looked, and listened, I found my mind calming down, and my thoughts turning to prayer and thankfulness to God for the simple beauty He has created.

So often I rush though life at a frantic and distracted pace, and I forget the simple command to "Be still, and know that I am God." Today I was reminded of that need to calm my heart and simply listen as God speaks to me, be it though the pages of His Word or the beauty of His creation.

A Glimpse into My Scattered Thoughts

If you could hear what is now going on in my head...

"Watching a soccer game and eating at Taco Bell, what a great dad/daughter date tonight!"

"I should go to bed early."

"I should stay up and read my book."

"I hope Steve calls tonight!"

"Can't wait to train in customer service tomorrow!"

"Don't want to go to work tomorrow..."

"When is my next day off?"

"Friday is payday!"

"Why do I have nothing interesting to say?"

"Yay! My friend texted me!"

"Ice cream sounds good."

"I really need to go running"

"..and I've had that song in my head all day..."

"FOCUS, Heidi!"

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." Psalm 16:11

Penguins

An important life lesson was illustrated to me today...by penguins. No, really. In the movie Madagascar my favorite characters are the military penguins. Throughout the entire movie they pursue the seemingly unattainable goal of reaching Antarctica, their beloved homeland where they believe everything will be perfect. The entire movie is spent in a series of mishaps, and more drama befalls the less interesting characters, until finally at the end the penguins sail off into the sunset and arrive at their destination. Antarctica! As they stand in a huddle on a frozen iceberg surrounded by bitter wind and blowing snow one of them eloquently comments, "Well this sucks."

At this point I just have to laugh, because this is exactly the way I feel about life sometimes (not the part where it sucks ;-) Often I spend my life looking ahead to the future, pursuing the next step, reaching for the seemingly unattainable goal...yet when I finally reach that place I find myself dissatisfied, disillusioned, and longing for things to be different than they really are. Just like the penguins I can be discontent with the place where I am at instead of being thankful for the blessings that surround me in the present day (even though I've never been stranded on a beautiful tropical island).

Contentment. It should be so simple yet it is a often a daily battle. The apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians writes, "...I have learned in whatever state I am to be content." I hope that someday I can truthfully echo Paul's statement. Until then, I'll continue to take a lesson from my penguin friends and daily strive for contentment at the place in which God has placed me.

Sacrifice

I love this quote. It provides much to contemplate.

"For my own part, I have never ceased to rejoice that God has appointed me to such an office. People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply paid back as a small part of a great debt owing to our God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice." ---David Livingstone

(found in the book Desiring God)

Today's Treasure #2

"Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him."
-Daniel 6:4 (ESV)

Oh to have that saying be true in my life. What if this was my testimony at work? Lord, help me be faithful.

Today's Treasure #1

"O our God...we do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
-2 Chronicles 20:12 (NIV)

This verse spoke to my heart today. It sums up much of what life feels like...and where my focus should be fixed.

Mercy Covers All...

I heard a song on the radio this morning and it has been in my head all day. I have heard many songs more profound and eloquently written, yet today this song made me want to cry...out of joy, out of thankfulness, and out of a deep longing to fully realize what it means to know that the mercy of my God covers ALL.

You Carried Me

I've been so busy, I missed the reasons
I missed Your love, and I nearly missed it all.
Still You loved me, and You've healed me,
You've given all and it brought me to Your cross
I stand only because You've given me grace to walk.
Only because...

You carried me,
You carried me,
You carried me through it all,
And I believe
Yes I believe,
You'll carry me all the way home,
Cause mercy covers all.

I know the scripture, I've known the songs,
I sang the words from my hollowed heart.
But You've spoken softly through the storm,
I've heard Your voice and I've felt the calm
I stand only because You've given me faith to walk.
Only because...

You carried me,
You carried me,
You carried me through it all.
And I believe,
Yes I believe,
You'll carry me all the way home,
Cause mercy covers all.

-Building 429
Word Records