Our Father's Hand

I'm convinced that everyone needs their Mary times. Those are times beyond the daily bread of quiet time or even extended times of retreat or study - stolen times to just sit at the feet of Jesus in awe of  the overwhelming, enveloping peace that passes understanding. The peace that is only found there.

I had one of those moments sitting on the rocks of Johnson Shut-Ins - an amazing rock formation on the Black River in Missouri that allows small waterfalls and pools to occur in the course of about a quarter mile.

The above picture isn't me, but it is a similar perch to what I had recently,  My daughter and family were picking their way downstream, crawling over rocks and sliding down small waterfalls.  I had found a perfect smooth rock from which to watch their progress.  And then - almost freeze-framed - I watched in between the large boulders where my 6 year old grandson strained to reach over a small but turbulent rapid to reach his father's outstretched hand.

And there it happened - a flash of insight - one of those a-ha moments where life makes sense if only for a moment.  In a flash, the simple picture that we can navigate this life with its torrents and rapids to the next safe foothold our Heavenly Father extends us, suddenly became clear.  I watched the same scenario of hundreds of state-park revelers in small groups helping one another make their way amongst the rocks.  And it occured to me that this is the answer to the ills of society: if each one would just help one, then the issues of taxes and welfare, broken homes producing broken children, and terrorism and immigration, Black Lives Matter, and locked congresses would find answers in compromise and extended mercy. Oversimplied - maybe- but a target to aim for nevertheless.  If we would just be ready to extend a hand in fellowship, give an ear to listening even to an opposing view, maybe we would see glimpses of solutions clouded by our own perspective that we are completely right.

Then I lifted my eyes downsteam to the glassy pond where the surging water fell to smoothness after leaving the detours and valleys of the rocks.  I looked up and onto the rock cliffs, the green foilage of the surrounding trees which met blue sky as a background for flying birds and white clouds.  I was overcome in that moment with God's glory displayed in creation where all the craziness of the world faded into the background of that beauty.

How many times do I not slow down to capture these Mary moments not only in my inconsistent blog?  Moreover, how many times do I miss them completely in my hurried life, running around doing Martha tasks?

I know there are different seasons and times of day for serving and resting.  For me, there are different blocks of time for writing, for being a grandma, for fellowship.  There are seasons of leaving on vacation, and seasons of routine at home, times of busyness and times for quiet and rest.

But there is always time to squeeze in a Mary moment by just taking a break to stop the motion of life to look at God's creation - whether it be a tree or sunset, be it summer or winter or fall.  There is always time to take a moment - to sit at His feet and feel the peace that He and only He brings.

Sitting at His Feet

Sitting at His feet I get a glimpse 
Of what the Mary in the gospel felt
When she let the world fade away 
    from her conscious
And simply at His feet she knelt.

Not succumbing to the pressure
Of what Martha and the world may expect,
But prioritizing the moment 
She had with our Lord to connect.

Maybe it was just a few moments
Or maybe the luxury of more,
But she knew the importance of resting
And take advantage of the offered rapport...

When she could drink in the peace of His Presence
By putting all else aside.
She looked beyond the moment
And stopped all else to abide.

In this world where peace is so hidden,
Where hatred and slander prevail,
Let us find Him our oasis of wisdom
So that our lives will tell the tale...

That we've got something special
   residing within us,
Something the world may not understand.
We've got the Spirit of Love to guide
But only if we hold on to His hand.