Some days I see just the fence.
But other days,
I press right up close, eye to the gap,
and look straight through.
Oh my.
When I go outside with God in the Yard, I seek the open space.
I want to look through.
So daily (well, almost—I’m trying) I leave a hole in time.
I ask for the open space.
Breathing room.
Margin around the edges.
Empty spots with no expectations.
What does God want to say today? What does he want to show? What does he want me to see?
I’m sure I still miss him by a wide margin on many days.
But there are days...
- when ducks hear me laugh out loud at how God made their bodies flip upside down as they dabble in water
- when I marvel at how trees defy gravity pulling down, and lift limbs up instead, in proud praise to the Son
- when I sit long enough to actually lose track of time (has it been 5 minutes or 30?) as he stills me in the quietness
* * *
How do you carve out breathing space in your day?
16 comments:
I'm journaling every day and I try to do it away from any clocks. It somehow expands my life and makes it larger and slows time for me.
I put a link to your last Lenten post up at the Moonboat today!
Thanks, Cassandra. You and I sound like kindred spirits. It’s amazing how journaling can pull out things in us that we might not have known were there. I am thankful God works through the discipline of writing words.
I love the outdoors for this, too, Lisa. Nightly walks with my Beloved are great for "breathing space." :)
Beautiful words and photos too! Oh I too need those margins to really hear and see!
Nice thoughts! Thanks for sharing.
I just got that book recently--am waiting for more snow to melt to wander through the yard and find my place. I love her idea of playfulness in making space for God--kinda makes me think faithful Christian living is all about duty.
smiles...great analogy for living with in the boundaires god creates and finding freeedom...great snaps...
You know I love this because I am trying to do the exact same thing -- little pockets of God space. Some day are better than others...but even if I snag five minutes to rest peacefully, it's something, right?
I loved God in the Yard -- but I was lame and just read it...I didn't practice any of the exercises! Maybe this spring is a good time to break out my copy and do it right this time!
Oh to keep eyes open, to see those bits of kisses that He has left for us to dig up!
Your pics do a great job showing the beauty I can find when I change perspective, or more to the point ask Him to change me. And ducks crack me up too. I spend a lot of time worshiping God as Creator when I walk around the local zoo where I have an annual pass.
That middle picture is great and illustrates your point so well.
Thank you so much for posting 1 Peter 5:6-8. I really needed to hear that today. Found you through Ann's bloghop at A Holy Experience. Hoping you will come visit me, too.
http://hisperfectpromises.blogspot.com/
The days on which I feel marvel at creation are frequent enough. But the days when time stands still because I'm reveling in his quietness... those really are a miracle! So thrilled you are getting some of those, at least.
oh, those first two pictures.... they make me long to lose track of time. lisa, i see him here, in this post, in your trusting him with space and minutes and everything in between.
Lisa this is such a wonderful inspiring message...:-)
I love this picture of "seeing". Open spaces and margin in my life- I could use those too. Thanks Lisa. Beautiful thoughts.
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