“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller
Interesting way to start a blog, huh?
Last week, I had midpoint debrief. We went to the beautiful Lake Atitlan and got the opportunity to debrief what life has been like the last 4.5 months on the race, and be reminded to continue with the same passion as when we started.
On adventure day, I went with a group of friends to go zip lining; it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen/done, but came with unexpected challenges. The first of which was the hike up.
We got all our harnesses on and began to hike up this mountain. Yes, mountain. It was about 25-30 minutes hiking up to almost the top. I’ve always struggled with doing larger physical activities, because I don’t see myself as capable. I never let myself be “sporty” or play around with sports, because I was so worried I would look bad or tired or something along those lines. It’s not something I even really realized I did, until I got to Guatemala. In the beautiful kindness of the Lord, He really softened my own heart. He showed me it’s okay (and fun!) to play sports and not worry about what other people think. When we play soccer with the kiddos, they don’t care if you mess up or are bad, but they have grace and laugh with you. This was actually such a big thing for me to be redeemed, that I didn’t even know I needed. Now, I volunteer to play soccer and run around with the kids. Not because I won’t be tired or fall, but I know it doesn’t matter if I do.
Hiking up this mountain though, I felt the enemy try and tell me that I wasn’t redeemed from that. That this was just another example of how I was not the “fit” one, trying to say that I am not capable and just a failure. But whenever we would come to a clearing, I was reminded of the beautiful grace of the father.
His beautiful creation is marked by His peace. The still waters of the lake silently echoing His glorious praise. The short moments of looking at the lake reminded my spirit to rest. Not to get caught up in the lies. But then, on goes the hike.
We would start walking up and again my mind would be bombarded. Questions of insecurity were placed, “do they think I’m not strong enough? Why am I like this, why can’t I just push harder?” But then His gentle spirit would remind me of the authority He has given me.
“My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Psalms 27:8
“SPEAK LIFE!” The Holy Spirit would shout. “Cast it out!”
So I obeyed. I started to speak truth over myself, even if I didn’t believe it. “I am strong, and I am a capable woman of God. I cast out these lies in the name of Jesus. I will overcome this because I know Jesus walks in front of me.” Sometimes you have to speak truth over yourself, even if you don’t (or refuse to) believe it.
We kept hiking up, nearing the top. And again, I was reminded how BIG God is.
The sun on the water mirroring His splendor in the details. Every leaf having immense delicacies and showing the invisible signature of the artist. A new breath would fill my lungs. One that doesn’t have to strive or heave, but one of rememberance. calmness. peace. “He’s got me.”
And higher we would go. The lies would still come, and sometimes I would forget to look up at his glory. I would forget He was holding my hands as we walked together. But even when I didn’t see Him he never stopped speaking truths over me. He has never and will never stop singing beautiful kindness over me, and you.
The top of the mountain yells his glory. From the eagles circling around, to the thin air that makes each breath exhale His praises. The top brings new perspective. The hike doesn’t seem that bad when you’re looking at the face of the Son, beaming at you with pride. Then you take a leap of faith.
And off you go. Getting a full view of the splendor of the surroundings you’ve found yourself in. Flying past the trees and rocks you are able to fully see the mountain you have overcome. You feel the wind ripping around you as you fly faster, stunned by the beauty. But then you get wrapped up in something else, again.
On this zip line, we had to stop ourselves so we wouldn’t be flying into the end too fast. We had to watch for our guide to wave the neon flag as the signal to start slowing down. As I was going down the line, I was so occupied by trying to be ready to slow down, I forgot to look around. I kept turning around and having to try and get myself oriented before coming into the end. When I got a glimpse, it was breathtaking, but so fast and was gone in a flash.
After I got off the first line, God reminded me of this quote from one of my favorite movies that I shared at the beginning of this blog: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” God definitely has a sense of humor.
Sometimes we have to brave the mountain hike. There we learn to call on His name, remember the authority He has given us, and pause when He brings us moments of peace. After the mountain you have to take the leap of faith. Remembering that He has a hold of you, no matter how fast you feel like you’re going, that you are safe and secure. But, we often forget in the business of life to look around. To admire the perfectly made puzzle of His creation. To remember that He brought you to the top to see a new perspective of His glory.
“Slow down child, I got you. Remember how far you’ve climbed. Remember to look around. Look at my face. Look at my beauty I have made for you. Just slow down, you have time.”
He is unmatched in grace. He never runs out of patience. Even if on 7/ 8 lines I went on I was stressed or forgot to look, He still wanted to teach me and pour out His grace. He is so so kind. Wow.
So here is the moral: don’t forget to look around. Life does move fast; admire His beauty in the precious moments He gifts you. Remember that there is grace that covers. We stumble and forget His power sometimes. We forget to seek His face with so much of life consuming our minds. But there. is. grace. He never runs out. Seek Him again. Humbly say you messed up, ask for help, He will joyously pour out His forgiveness on you. Slow down. Remember. Hold onto Him. It’s worth it.
Worship song: Taste and See by John Mark Pantana
Verse: “Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” Psalms 51:15-17 (also Luke 10:38-42)
