It is supposed to be the dry season, devoid of rain, wind, and storms. Until last night it was. The quote so far came from a traveler who just woke up after almost a day on an airplane.
“Where am I? I woke up in paradise.”
The change in the past twelve hours is complete, but it may not last. Calm breezes are now intense winds. The color of blue skies has been transformed into a dull gray blanket that sheds water at will. Gentle swells rolling in on the beach has morphed into a pounding expression that seems to never end. I know it can get better but when?
I keep seeing two sides. Weather in a tropical winter can come and go at will. With people the process is much slower, at least usually! The calm, nurturing, and inspiring contributions of those who are interesting in learning from others and sharing their steps with others on the road never ceases to amaze. The quote that comes to mind is this. “Who are these people? I woke up and found myself excited, encouraged, and full of hope!”
The opposite is equally intense. I come into a conversation full of hope. I am looking forward to new ideas, insights, and ways of looking at life. I find myself quickly spirally into a pool of stale, self-centered, and self-serving words that have little point other than to remind everyone of the god they individually pursue.
“True intelligence is a spring of fresh water, while fools sweat it out the hard way.” (Proverbs 16.22)
I often find myself stuck in a trap of my own making. I talk about God, the real God, and yet in fact search to realize the god of self hiding within. When I find the storms within I pull out my personal toolbox and work on the solution, sweating it out the hard way without success. In these moments remember that God loves you so much he will never leave you as you are because he is the ultimate spring of fresh water.
