Welcome Back

I went for a walk in the hills yesterday afternoon. Many folks hike the fire trails in our county. I nodded hello to a few people as I passed. Then I rounded the corner to see a sheriff’s car slowly driving toward me. He was patrolling the hills because the fire danger is high. It was so odd to see a car on the hiking trail.

I have a confession to make, I haven’t been walking everyday. No big deal, right? Well . . . walking the hills use to be my quiet time. It was the peaceful part of my day when I talked to God. I either shut off the world and marveled at God’s glory or I hauled all my worries to His feet and complained. I slowly fall out of the habit. I made excuses to avoid getting out of bed. Time slipped by. It has been months and months. I miss my quiet time.

So yesterday I walked. My legs were stiff going up hill. I stretched my arms with each stride. I breathed in deeply. My whole body, right down to my soul said, “AH! I missed this!”

When the sheriff’s patrol car rounded the corner my first reaction was to laugh. I flashed on this thought “God will do anything to get me back.” It felt as if He’d pulled an outrageous stunt just to welcome me back to our private quiet time. I know it may seems like a stretch but it gave me such giggles to see a car in the woods. As if God was saying, “You never know what’s going on up here. You better come up every day to check it out.” And as I walked all kinds of thoughts and prayers bombarded me, like He was making up for lost time. I wanted to stop and write for hours, instead I said “Thank you for the welcome. I’ll walk again tomorrow.”

So one day at a time I am returning to concentrated quite time. And my whole body right down to my soul says, “AH!” I hadn’t given up the quick prayers and thoughts that pepper my day, I just added back my quality time with God.

Ands you know what else, I think God has a smug little smile on His face, “I knew I could get her back up here. The sheriff’s car was a cheap trick but whatever it takes.” God is after each of us. He wants to make it personal. I don’t know how or why it all works but it does and if you give it a try your whole body, right down to your soul will say “AH!” God is the only one who can fill you like that.

Posted 11/8/2006 @ 1:10 PM | Weekly Thoughts