Refreshed (part 2): Quiet waters

I love water.  I love to look at it.  I love to paddle on it and swim in it.  And I love to drink it. Which is a good thing...my life depends on it.

On our retreat we learned the reason for the distinction of quiet waters.  For there are treacherous waters nearby to be avoided.  The sheep don't know the difference.  They  only know they are thirsty.  They will drink from the wildest of waters. But the Shepherd knows.

Have I mentioned lately that it's been winter here?  Yes, it has.  How is it that all these trees can look so completely dead for so many months, and then in only a week's time spring back to life in all its glory?  They have literally been storing up life, in order to be restored.

I can get so down on myself when my soul feels barren. But I have discovered that barrenness can be a clean slate. There is so much of God that I do not see.  The best way to get a better look at something big is to take a step back. I do not like the feeling of that space between myself and my God.  I do not like the fact that the appearance of the new facets of him that I had not seen before make him somehow unfamiliar.

But when the unfamiliar settles in, I love the new perspective, and the sense that I have grown. I love my Savior with more of my mind...and my heart, soul and strength follow.

Barrenness can be purposeful,  the restored soul stronger and more beautiful than before.

Refreshed

I had the privilege of spending this past weekend with a very sweet group of women from our church on a retreat.  The retreat center was a beautiful, serene setting, and although rain was predicted, we enjoyed a full day of warmth and some sun on Saturday.

The theme of the retreat was the twenty-third psalm.  Though the psalm is comfortingly familiar, we were given many insights and experiences to help us understand far more deeply the significance of its beautiful imagery.

I didn't realize what a desert region the Psalmist was describing with the reference to green pastures.  We think of the lush green fields you would expect to find in, say, Ireland.  After all, the promised land was flowing with milk and honey, right?

Well, it turns out that there was enough for those sheep to eat, but really, just enough for today.  The sparse vegetation could sustain the flock, but the flock must be on the move.  But the shepherd always knew where the next meal would come from!

And very much like that, God meets all my needs.  If I am worrying about how tomorrow's needs will be met, well, he won't be too likely to concern himself with handing me the map to the next pasture.  Why would I need a map, when he's going with me? He wants me to keep my eyes on him, to trust him, and follow him.  He knows where he's going.