Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”?
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:26-31
I headed out to the country for a few days this last week and as always getting organised to go was the biggest hurdle. Getting the bags packed, the kids packed, the pets fed, the washing up done, the garbage out, the doors locked and the car sorted – – – – is a bit of a marathon. So by the time I get in the car to leave I’m out of sorts and frazzled and tired and hungry.
A snap shot of life? The busyness of most of our days compacted down into a few hours of intense activity and your left flagging at the end of it and wondering what your doing it all for. A sure sign we need to stop a while and rest.
So the nice part for me is the drive – the part that makes it worth the effort straight away – the three hours of simply driving and not having to organise a single thing, three hours to breath and think and take in the view.
I’ve done this drive maybe a hundred times but I never tire of the view – the rise and fall of the hills, the lush green of the paddocks, the ploughed up earth waiting for seed, the crevices and creases that catch the rain and the wide open spaces – – – the sheer distance ahead that I can see – – – that magnificent expanse of sky – intense blue sometimes, grey and brooding at other times – it stretches and spreads right out – all the way to the horizon where it comes down to kiss the earth.
And possibility seems endless.
It reminds me there’s more – past the edge of what I know and into what I don’t know – the mystery and wonder of God – more than I can understand or ask or imagine, so much more than this narrow trail would let me see if I never bothered to look up.
The vastness and expanse of the countryside somehow seep into me – making room where it’s gotten cluttered and stuffy and heavy. The bigness of God making room in the small smallness of my thinking and the limitations of my own efforts.
Like a soothing balm, fresh air to my soul, a song that sings “He is All and in all and over all”.
And this sky and earth – they don’t even try – they spread out vast and effortless and sure. Magnificent and glorious. They worship God just by being. By doing what He created them to do.
It reminds me to rest. It reminds me that it’s OK. It reminds me that He has all this in hand and on the palm of that hand is my name. (Isaiah 49:16) There I can rest.
The strivings not needed. The trying to be – not needed. The beholding Him – that’s worthwhile though – that’s what changes a well-worn road into a feast of possibility and opportunity.
So when we are sore and sorry and worn out – as we do in trying to do it all and carry our own load – our energy spent, our strength too – – He say’s (in my words) ‘here have mine, no need to do it alone, rest for a moment, look on Me – – – – and just be. All you need – it’s here. All your hopes and dreams – they’re here’.
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hand, your walls are ever before me” (Isaiah 49:16).
Around every sweep and curve of the road the view moves and changes and unfolds. Who could imagine that a journey as unremarkable as mine, on such a run-of-the-mill road would take me such beautiful places.
Tracey xx
Lets Do Lunch
You’re invited!! Our Winter Warm Up lunch is on Saturday the 25th July at 1pm. Forget the prep, the cooking and the clean up – we are having a relaxed and delicious lunch out at Gigi’s Italian Restaurant (Corner of Market and Corrimal Streets, Wollongong). Invite someone along and let’s warm ourselves with good food and good company. You can take a look at the lunch menu here.
http://www.gigisrestaurant.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31&Itemid=69
Please RSVP by Monday the 21st.