Looking outside the scene is stunning. Intense sunlight backlights scattered clouds. A brisk wind blows bringing warm smells of autumn. Yellow and green leaves dance on the hardwood trees, while the flat topped cypress sway in a slightly discordant rhythm. Yards are bright green, and the natural noises of the earth overwhelm anything temporarily challenging their domain.
Inside looking out, I am paying a price to things unknown. My body aches, my head hurts inside and out, and my mind wanders. As I listen for God the words come quickly, but I insist on getting a few words in first.
“I knew you had a better plan than the one I lived during the past few days.”
“I know. I love you.”
“I thought I knew what I was doing.”
“I know. I am always willing to spend time with you.”
“Where does this leave me?”
“I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly – or worse.” (Romans 14.10)
“Where do I go from here?
“Come home.”
In reality, we walk away from God daily. It is easy to get busy with the immediate, worry about the next, and fret about the before. It is easy to believe that we have to make it on our own, struggle to overcome the adversaries that block our journey every day. Fighting is something that comes naturally, especially as our desire to live increases.
Looking at God and his gifts is stunning. I find it almost too much to take in, and often difficult to believe and accept. God's intense love and unconditional acceptance backlights the difficulties we face each day. The Spirit surrounds each of us, bringing words of comfort, gifts of grace and mercy, to your life and mine. As I stop to watch God at work, around me and in lives of people, my own intransigence is overwhelming. Knowing that my stubbornness repeats itself in millions of lives everyday, and yet God loves in and through it all, is a mystery that defies understanding.
Come to me is an invitation directly from God. This is our reality.
