So every morning as a team, we sit down about an hour before ministry and have quiet time together. We listen to music or a podcast, read in the Word, read a book, or journal about what we are learning. Usually about once a month, I sit down and ask God what he wants me to learn in the coming month.
During debrief last week, that’s what I did. I sat down and just asked God what he wanted me to learn. God has shown me some really cool things in these quiet times so I wanted to try and share one with you.
In the book The Shack, there is a chapter that describes a scene of people in heaven all gathered in a circle. Each person has brilliant streams of color coming from them. Each color combination is one of a kind. They are layered by emotion, personality, feelings, and who you are. Not one is exactly alike another. It contains everything about you from fear and anger to joy and love.
So after asking God what he wanted me to learn this month, I got a simple answer. “Learn to appreciate the beauty and time around you”. Like most people, I am constantly looking forward, anticipating the next thing and I often miss what is right in front of me. In this case, the awesome community I have, the amazing travel experiences that I most likely will never have again, and the people that I get to interact with on a daily basis in the local area. By looking to the future, I’m missing everything that is right now. I’m not giving it the attention or appreciation it deserves.
The past 3-4 mornings I’ve sat on the porch during our quiet times, just enjoying the view of the country and mountains in Macedonia. It really is a beautiful country full of hills, blue skies, and mountains. BUT God added something a little more. I saw brilliant reds, oranges, yellows, blues, and greens streaming from everything. It was coming from houses, the people walking down the street, the kids playing on the playground, to the markets full of fresh fruits and vegetables. It was enchanting. Each color combination swirled around in the air like being directed by the wind and make its way toward heaven.
I was awe struck. Why does God care so much for me? I was struggling with how to see the beauty around me. How to appreciate the little joys in the people walking around. He created this picture just for me. God is so good. So now, that’s how I see the world. When I’m sitting in a park making balloon animals or reading my book on the porch, the world is flowing with beautiful colors around me, surrounding me and showing me the joy that is there. You just have to look for it.
I know, it probably sounds a little crazy but that’s okay! Being a little crazy is more fun anyway 😉 so if you’re stuck or just want to spice things up in your quiet time, ask God for a vision or imagine this scene. It changed how I view my present life. To appreciate the vibrant colors that are flowing out of each person, with every emotion, thought, feeling as unique as the person itself. Whether it’s fear or joy, anger or happiness, each and every color is beautiful. There is always something good that comes out of hard times. There is always something wonderful that comes out of good times as well. Each color may represent something different, but in the end they are all beautiful and life-giving.
