“You have to let the roots grow deep, and stop worrying about the leaves. In due season they will be made new.”
This past summer, I spent a lot of time traveling. And, although I absolutely loved visiting everyone, it sometimes made it hard to be present (something they stressed to us at Training Camp). As I drove to each new destination, I could feel a chapter of my life closing. I was driving to say goodbye for the next year to my friends and family. Usually, those goodbye-conversations consisted partly of me explaining what I was going to be doing on the World Race. The Race is really easy to get excited about (and rightfully so!). But that also means it’s easy to daydream about.
The Lord encourages me to dream big dreams! But, He also calls me to be present, to be fully engaged where He has placed me.
One August morning, God woke me up a little before 6:30. As I was turning over to go back to sleep, He sweetly whispered, “Go outside.” I sleepily and reluctantly put on my sandals. I couldn’t have prepared myself for the view that awaited me.
I lost my breath. The Lord has captured my heart time and time again with countless sunrises and sunsets, but this was His magnum opus. I couldn’t respond in any way other than sitting in the sand by the shore and marveling, mouth gaping wide open, at this reflection of His splendor.
He invited me to step into the waves, to enjoy to cool morning water rush over my feet. He encouraged me to laugh with the seagulls and bask in the warm sun. He kept telling me to soak in this moment… to be fully, completely, wholeheartedly present.
As I was about to walk back up to my room, I decided to take a quick picture of my feet in the sand. I didn’t want to forget this moment. I didn’t want to forget what it felt like to know that The Lord and I had been totally engrossed in each other, both of our feet firmly planted on the beach.
As the weeks went on before Launch, I kept going back to that picture to remind me to be present. Then I started taking more pictures of where I was each time I remembered God’s whisper to stay present.
And that’s how the Isaiah 52 Project was born.
Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!”
This project reminds me that being present is beautiful. It reminds me that the news of The Lord’s peace and salvation is beautiful. It reminds me that remaining present in His peace is astoundingly beautiful.
Which each picture I take, I am reminded to be present and to be fully invested in the place that The Lord has called me to be. I am reminded to grow and flourish where I am planted.
To see more from this project, follow #isaiah52project on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Please feel free to post pictures of your own “present” moments and use the #isaiah52project hashtag!
