I love those moments where a situation in your life acts as a metaphor and is a parallel representation that leads to a realization. I am talking about a precise moment that creates an image, symbolism and particular example that is experienced and remembered . A realization that pulls up your eyebrows, slighty tilds your head to one side, connects dots, makes things click and causes your lips to whisper out a much deserved “woah”.
There are not many things that make me as happy as dresses with pockets. There is a comfy- but-cute and chic-happy feeling that rushes upon you when slipping into your favorite “pocketed-dress”.
My morning started with a big smile, as I slipped on that dress, hit play on my favorite Spotify worship playlist and dropped my phone into one of my handy pockets to carry it along with me, hands-free, as I walked around the apartment getting ready and sipping on my hazelnut coffee.
I proceeded to apply my mascara while humming along to my favorite Hillsong tunes. In the kitchen I declared to the spoons and the cups my love for Jesus and let them know that He knows my name as I danced and sang out loud. While making my eggs and packing my lunch, I bopped my head along to the mention of promises and the reminder of His love that was coming through my speakers. I had spent my morning enjoying the words and encouragement that came out the pockets of my little black dress. Then it was time to grab my computer and make my way to the office. And that is when the moment hit.
As soon as I opened the door to my apartment, the outside noise, passing cars, and rushing wind entirely drowned out the music that had been so clear and loud a second before. It was as if someone had hit the pause button or as if my iPhone had run out of battery.
All of a sudden, as I stepped out onto the real world, there was no trace of the music that had been making my heart dance and praise His beautiful name. The external factors had drowned out the promises and words of Jesus. That is the exact moment where my eyebrows raised, my eyes widened and I whispered “whoa”.
The entirety of my drive to work I could not help but make the parallel realization that this is exactly what occurs in my life. It is very easy to listen to a sermon on Sunday, love the passage at bible study class and feel inspired during quiet time, but still completely have those thoughts, feelings and desires drowned and silenced by daily distractions and noises.
Work, earthly desires, certain relationships, social media and most importantly ourselves, cloud our ability to focus on the Lord and the reminder to reflect the fruits of the spirit. Just like my music that morning, I sometimes allow my relationship with the Jesus to be masked by things in life.
I allow these distractions to make me go through my day without seeking the Lord and without desiring His guidance and light. I allow outside noises to make me believe that I have the power and that earthly things should be what I place all of my focus on.
So as the world screams, and the wind roars and my attention is pulled in every single direction, I pray for the courage to listen to His whispers. The whisper that reminds us of His love and our need to fully trust and rely on Him.
I pray for the strength to constantly and actively choose Him over all of the other things pulling for my attention.
