“Tell me, what will you do with your one wild and precious life?”–Mary Oliver
These words have been running through my head for a couple of months now. I’ve thought, sat, and wondered what it truly is that I want to do with this life that I have before me. Now you would think that I would know by now right? I mean I’ve traveled the world and am about to go again and still I am sitting on this question posed by Ms. Oliver. I can tell you what I hope and desire to do with my life, yet the most important thing that I can do is listen to my Father’s voice.
For some this might seem taboo, to take time to really listen, yet why wouldn’t you want to sit with the Father. Let me give you a picture of where He takes me when I take time to just sit and be with Him. First, I tell Him “Papa, your daughter is listening, what do you want me to hear?” He typically responds with “Come away with me to my secret place where you and I can go and just be.” Each time I see a hand reach out to me, to give me a choice to join Him and where He wants to take me. Most times it’s in a garden. I like to believe He is showing me a part of the Garden of Eden. Reason I say this is after I take His hand He guides me on a path by still waters and we come to this walled area and there is this gate (like in the book “The Secret Garden”). He opens up the gate and there before me are lush plants so green, trees tall and strong, flowers of every color, butterflies fluttering around, and birds chirping their sweet melodies in the background. He takes me to what I believe is the center of the garden to an open area that is surrounded by trees but the sun is shining right in the center and daisies growing all around.
I sit at His feet in the green grass and am eagerly waiting for what He has to share with me. Sometimes its hard to hear, but as any Father wants He is just protecting His baby girl. Other times He just wants to share a sweet memory with me, or to tell me how much He loves me. As of recent when He has taken me to this secret place, my heart has been heavy because of circumstances that have happened in my life, yet God always lavishly shows me His love and consistently has been telling me “Trust me, I have good things before you. I have you right where I want you which is right here in my arms, for I am a good, good Father. Hope in the things unseen and continue to listen to what I am telling you.”
This is such a challenge when on the inside I am continually battling the lies and questions and am fighting for the need for control. Yet again He tells me “just be still and know that I am God.” To be still, to listen, to trust, all commands that Abba asks each day; to come sit at His feet. Ultimately, what do I plan to do with this one wild and precious life I have been given? I plan to live a life worthy of the calling Abba has placed on my life. To listen to what He is saying. To trust and know that He has the best planned for me. And to be still and just be with Him! I want to live a life that is FILLED with Him and the desires He has for me, for He has far greater things ahead of me then anything I could have ever planned or dreamed of, yet I can only go and do when I choose to seek Him. For He always fulfills His promises that He has given, while it might look different than what I may have thought, it still is perfect. As He promises in Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” What more could I desire in this life then a promise like that? “So tell me what will you do with your one wild and precious life?” (Mary Oliver)
