Across the street from my house in Greenville where I grew up is a field. This field has hosted many “walks and talks” between me and our Lord. It has been an avenue to get away and go walk in the woods and to experience quiet away from the business we get tangled up in. This field allows time to walk a faithful companion in a pet or take a walk with friends and family. I am very thankful for the times I can get away and dedicate time for myself as well as time with our Lord.
This particular day on Thanksgiving it was early in the day before any of the planning really started and I told Faith I would like to go take a walk. I wanted to be intentional with her in the field and dedicate time to give thanks and prepare our hearts for the day. We found ourselves and Andy (our dog) making our way across the street and through the little opening that was made some years ago in the fence. At the start we were quiet and I finally broke the silence with the intentional instructions to really focus on the fact that Jesus is here with us. It was one of my favorite things to do on my walks, to focus and really visualize Jesus walking side by side us and just listening and talking as a friend would. It is very rewarding and comforting. I began to thank God for all He is doing and what He will do, Faith followed after thanking God for the relationship we have with Him and each other along with many other things. The field is big and we decided to just walk along the perimeter and talk to God as we walk with Him and His Son Jesus. As we came around the edge of the woods I stated the importance not only to give thanks and speak to God, but to truly take time to LISTEN as well. This is something that I have not been the best at in the past and honestly have been frustrated at times when I dedicate this time and nothing SEEMS TO HAPPEN….**the way I PLAN it to at least….but I have learned and I truly do cherish what we learned at training camp, that we have to create space for God to speak and move at times, and that’s exactly what I was desiring on this walk. Not expecting anything specific, but simply wanted to start the day off with our Lord, give thanks, and listen to what He is telling us.
It wasn’t 20 feet after I told Faith our next set of “instructions”, to be intentional in LISTENING, that I looked down at this path that seemed to be created where we were walking in the field with some rocks strewn along it. Within seconds it seemed to be the first rock I saw that stood out and seemed to tell a story already. I am no expert on rocks, but I will do my best to describe it. It is about the size of my palm, brown and “dirty” in color, very ridged and worn (almost like the rock face on a mountain you see rock climbers traversing)- nothing special at first glance. Once you flip the rock over though, you see an outline along the edge that resembles the exterior, but within the lining is a cleaner white rock that seems to shine and shimmer when you look at it. The inner workings you can tell have been exposed by most likely a lawn mower that happened to run across this path and in so doing took a huge chunk out of this rock that I am holding in my hand.
As I studied this rock the Lord began to speak so clearly to me saying, “I AM NOT DONE WITH YOU”. At first glance I saw a dirty rock, but if I know anything about rocks I know that the are created through a PROCESS. This process is different, but it can relate to our growth as humans in relationship with one another and our Lord. Growth takes time and process. I then began to look at the inner workings and saw the white inside- which I couldn’t help but think of how Jesus makes us white as He cleanses us- but with that I thought and explained to Faith, “man for this rocks true beauty to shine through it took a lawn mower (or something) to come through and tear it apart- what a destructive process!” But I also realized sometimes those destructive, painful processes are going to take place to truly STRIP US so that our TRUE SHINING WHITE IDENTITY IN CHRIST IS REVEALED! Jesus said to me- “I am not done with you, keep pursuing Me, be patient through the painful process and trust Me.” There will be times in our lives that seem destructive and are going to be painful, but we are to stay focused on truth. I am reading “The Shack” right now just read last night a passage that was pertaining to pain and the line read “When all you can see is your pain, perhaps then you lose sight of Me?” This was talking about in these times of destruction and pain we tend to think that God has left us and is no longer working, but we can be distracted and forget based on our circumstances to stay focused on Jesus.
This rock is a reminder in so many ways saying “I am not done with you, stay focused, even through the pain and destruction I AM still working- trust Me.”
Thank you Jesus.
