It is nice to have something
fresh for a change. I woke up this morning in a small cottage in a valley in
Moldova. Moldova is known as “The breadbasket of the USSR” because of its
fertile soil. This is evident in the lush landscape around me. I got up and strapped
my running shoes on as I do almost everyday. Except this time it was different,
instead of running through an impoverished neighborhood or down a run down
street of a third world country, as I have so often done this past year, I was
running through the beautiful Moldovan countryside. I was breathing in the
fresh air, walking over the hand made bridge as I headed toward the hill in
front of me. As I climbed the hill my breathing increased, partially from the
run, partially from the excitement as I neared the top. The view from the top
literally took my breath away. I looked over the trail that I had just run. I
looked down to the river I just crossed. I looked to the hills filled with
sunflower fields. I looked down to the cottage I just left from and I soaked it
in. As I turned around I saw a seemingly endless field of wheat, so peaceful,
so natural, the wheat just swaying in the wind. I decided to turn the rest of
my run into a walk, a stroll with God.
As I walked through the field
I began to pray out loud. Speaking out my conversation with God. I thanked Him
for this past year. I thanked Him for all the blessings he has poured out on me
this past year. I thanked Him for the new wisdom He has given me. I prayed for
the coming year. I prayed for Nine70 the ministry I will be interning with. I
prayed for Brandon Ribble the other intern I will be serving with. I prayed for
Reza the pastor of Nine70. I prayed for my family. I prayed for my friends
present and future. But mostly I thanked Him for the new fresh perspective, in
making the little things so apparent, so vibrant, so alive.
When I got to the end of the
wheat field I came to a drop off. I looked down to the valley where two large
river converged. I was told later that I was looking at the border to Ukraine.
There were wild flowers everywhere. I had worship music playing on my ipod so I
took one ear bud out and just sang worship at the top of my lungs. It felt so
good to scream praise to my King, my Savior, my God. I stood on a rock next to
the cliff and just dance and sang for about 30 minutes not caring what anyone
would think of me. It felt so free.
I walked back across the
wheat field and down the hill I had previously climbed but this time when I
came to the hand made bridge I decided to take a different way. I took off my
shoes and threw then to the other shore. I inched my way into the stream
feeling every rock beneath by bare feet. It was so liberating feeling the
fresh, cold river water rushing by. Looking up at the bridge I stopped and wondered,
how many people have walked across that bridge every day never getting to
experience this feeling.
What opportunities do you walk by every day that you
never take the time to experience?
Man made this bridge so he
didn’t have to get wet. Man made the windshield of the car so he didn’t have to
feel the wind. Man made the umbrella so he didn’t have to feel the rain. But I
challenge you to walk through the river, stick your head out your window, let
the umbrella go and experience life, and life to its fullest.
To rub it in a little more, I
experienced several other fresh perspectives today. When I got home from my run
and dryed off from the stream, I ducked down and ran into the small hen house
next to the cottage. I scared the hen and she ran around trying to find the
exit. The rooster outside didn’t like it either but once the hen was gone I
picked up my fresh egg for breakfast. I walked over to the garden on the other
side of the cottage and picked a ripe cucumber, tomato and onion. Walked inside
for a slice of fresh made bread from the market down the street and made myself
a cup of freshly brewed coffee, Turkish style of course… nothing fresher than
that. To finish the meal I had a tall cold glass of filtered water from the
stream as an old soviet train strolled by.
Sure all these things are
literally fresh from the source and new to me coming from where I have been but
God can do this with anything around you. Pray for a new perspective. Pray that
God will reveal things to you in a new way.
Pray that God will open your eyes
to the small things in life that he has blessed you with anthat you are walking right by.
