Have you ever gone into the woods and felt like you just transported to a whole new world? It's the kind of place that has nothing in common with the other world we live in. It's a place of wild, solemn, space and silence. It is so grand that it pulls us deeper into it with great, irresistible charm. Leaving it makes us homesick.
I needed space yesterday. Different from the others during this pandemic. I needed to be alone with the Creator and see, smell and touch something without fear of sickness. I wanted to be completely welcomed without needing to wear a mask. To be a part of something that this virus couldn't touch.
I drove to a place off the beaten path, not even thinking all that much as to how I got there. I heaved my gear onto my back and walked into a sunny place along a river, not stopping until I could hear the noise in my head shut down completely. It was there that I met Him. My Creator and I finally alone for a solid hour.
It's not that He ever left me, but rather I being so preoccupied with the "other world" that I missed His presence. He knew I needed this even more so than I did, knowing exactly why my heart felt this way. Lonely. Afraid. Overwhelmed.
I'm glad that I accepted His invitation. It's different from any other. No gift was expected on my part. Just simply, "come as you are."
In that place we communicated in full transparency. My heart unloading its heavy burdens from the past several weeks, while He comforted me with the shelter of nature. With every turn of my head, He reminded me of His constant provision. The river was not dry. The trees were bursting with new growth. The floor of the woods was painted in rich color for my enjoyment. The birds sang happily, never lacking for food. Quiet, just as my soul needed it.
After the sun finally made its last appearance of the day I quietly, yet reluctantly retreated. As I retraced my steps back to the car, His whispers reminded me that the invitation was an open one. No expiration date. His generous love imparting a piece of that world, making certain that my soul knew exactly where we could meet again.
Renewal always waiting.
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