What a blur Thanksgiving was. It always seems to show up then end too fast. Since our move, life seems to go that way. Fast and furious. Moving my whole family, getting started in a new job, meeting new people, and basically just starting my life and my whole family’s life over again- whew! It can be overwhelming. All this while trying to maintain family time, being the best wife I can be, being the best mom I can be, being the best pastor I can be, being the best me I can be. I tell you it can REALLY spin a girl. I felt like I was starting get sucked into the tornado instead of remaining in the eye of the storm.
It’s funny to me that THAT was my idea of peace…the eye of the storm. The calm spot in the center of the tornado. The little island of bliss, where, if I am careful not to step too far to the right or left, I can be in complete harmony (sigh). I could enjoy the solitude of my little area of ecstasy. Ever been there? Just want that one place of peace in the middle of the chaos? Ever since I learned that there even was an eye to the storm I tried to live in it. It’s very stressful to try and stay there in the middle of craziness and to not get sucked into the insanity around you. I know I’m not alone in this.
Friends, I am not happy to admit, but I guess I’m relieved to admit, I was being ripped off! It was never God’s intention for me to dwell in the eye of the storm. I’m going to say that again. It was NEVER God’s intention for US to dwell in the eye of the storm but rather to not fear, or be bothered by, or even to just get rid of the storm all together.
Mark 4:39 (New Living Translation)
39 when Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
Yeah, life happens. Stuff happens. You see it on bumper stickers and t shirts all across the world in every language ca-ca happens. And we are surrounded by it. We get overwhelmed by all the to do lists, the job, the market for…whatever, the things I need to get, the things I need to get rid of and so on… you know your lists better than me. They build ominous waves around your little area of serenity and threaten to overtake you.
In the middle of this particular life threatening storm Jesus was asleep. HE WAS SLEEPING!!!! Which I took as his eyes were closed. I only think this because I sleep with my eyes closed. I don’t know if Jesus did or not but until he tells me otherwise, I am just going to assume he slept with his closed too. Why was this important to me? It was important because if my eyes are closed I cannot see the things that threaten me. Sure I can still hear and feel some effects, but what first feeds my attention is shut off. My eyes. I can focus my thoughts on other things. Not the things that threaten, but things that calm, things that relax, things that matter more than the stupid storm. I can visualize what is important and drive my heart toward that. I can then start to concentrate on my help instead of my helplessness. Once my focus is set, all other things follow suit. I start hearing the promises of my Father in Heaven who loves me. I can feel His embrace and His guidance and He walks me to my next place, I can breathe in His pure love for me and I am assured that I am taken care of. I am going to make it through this. I hold these things close to my heart and in the forefront of my mind and then I open my eyes. The waves of my to do’s and not done’s are there threatening me and I command them Peace be Still. I look at each task one at a time and I say I will live even if you don’t get done today, I will be happy even if you don’t get done today, I am loved and worthwhile even if you don’t get done today. You will NOT overtake me, my mind, my peace, or my joy. All that matters is taken care of.
Our storms are in fact storms, and they do rage, but I encourage you friends to face it like Jesus. With your eyes closed and your heart focused on His promises. Even if the end result doesn’t look like you thought it would, you still made it to the end! You still won! In the craziness of the Christmas to do’s I encourage you to close your eyes and focus on whats really important. Enjoy the time with your family, sing songs with them, watch a movie, relax with them. Take your focus off the things that aren’t done and put it on loving the person who is in front of you. Shut your eyes to your helplessness and listen for your help. Christmas will still come, whether that present you wanted to buy for so n so is under the tree or not. Let’s not sulk in what we didn’t do but rejoice in what He has done, is doing, and will continue to do. Let us focus on the gift of friends and family and love. Let us sing off key at the top of our lungs, let us live wildly and love recklessly and celebrate that Love came down and is with us still.
