Sisters of Grace

ShilohRose77©️

This past Friday, I decided to take a little time out for solitude and enjoy the beautiful weather. There is a small park a few miles from my house, that I really like because it has a nice walking path and playground, but my favorite thing is that it’s usually secluded. It is a very small town there and little traffic. This area is a real treat, compared to my busy neighborhood! I have missed going to this particular spot because we recently had some extensive flooding in my town and surrounding areas. This park has been flooded for several weeks now, so I was happy to see some of the water had receded.

Then I excitedly put on my AirPods and turned on Apple Fitness, the app has guided walks that are pretty cool. They have famous people record sort of like a podcast while walking, and they tell stories and share music that they enjoy. I saw a guided walk with the actor Adam Scott, and chose to listen because I am watching a show with him in it right now. Adam told a story about being in New York during the blackout back in 2003.

He said that when it occurred he came home to find all of his neighbors outside and people everywhere in the streets. He said that he was invited to join neighbors on the rooftops for drinks. He agreed, not wanting to sit in a dark apartment anyway. He said that as he ascended upon the roof that people began yelling and cheering, as if celebrating the darkness that surrounded them! This story touched me because I could see how the unity of that city, made a scary and uncertain time that much better.

The picture of thousands of people in such a large city, celebrating the pause in the mundane. The human spirit is hard to kill, people can be very resilient when tested. It’s amazing what a person can live through. This event impacted Adam, he was able to be apart of something so much bigger than him. How many events in our lifetime have happened that we couldn’t control but were made stronger by it? As I listened to his story, I am looking at the waters left from the flood, it has made a pond in this grassy area. Some of the walking path is still completely under water.

Nature is a force to be reckoned with. I found the covered pathway and this new small body of water, oddly beautiful. What are we really in control of I think to myself? I enjoyed looking and taking pictures. I see the water marks, debris, mud stains, snail shells it’s truly unique. As I am walking, I am remembering what the park looks like before the flooding. Before it was literally just a wide open, grassy field. The water even extends into the woods, I wonder how far back it goes?

Many questions begin forming in my mind. How long will the water be here? The sun was warm and the wind unusually strong. I watched as leaves floated on the water, I feel God here. Our little plans are often change by unseen circumstances. It is essential to remain flexible in this life. I wonder what this piece of land looked like two hundred years ago? I have lots of questions, I ask God “What’s next for me?” My own world seems so uncertain right now. My plans seem futile to the grand scheme of God’s will.

In prayer, I voiced my frustrations with this current season of life and I asked God to show me how he is at work. That’s when the strong urge to come to this particular park came to me. I sort of wonder was this his answer? Things change, and what we know sometimes doesn’t look the same. Familiarity the disease of the complacent. Then I decided to sit on a bench and rest in the warm sun, I saw two ducks in the water. They have a new place and fresh water to enjoy. Unlike me, they are not worried.

This change in environment did not throw them off. I wonder how far they travelled to reach this new opportunity? God spoke this to my heart, “What we see as devastation is provision for someone else.” The God that makes rain in the dry places. The flood water here was at least 2.6 ft deep because you could see the picnic table was submerged, based on debris all over it. Notice these pictures are after some of the water has receded. I am unsure of just how deep it was, just guessing. Like all of us I am searching for something. I want answers to life’s mysteries, what is the BIG PICTURE? I feel like I know so much and yet I also feel like I know nothing.

Life is so intricately connected and as the years go on, I see little glimpses of what it’s all about. Yet still so many questions remain unanswered. At times God feels so close and others he feels distant. I have often yelled out “Where are you?” As if I can demand the God of ALL, to be at my every whim and a call. However many times he does show himself but it’s usually in ways that I don’t expect. Sometimes God shows up as a kind stranger, a random act of kindness, a gentle whisper inside myself, a storm, a warm breeze or in the darkness. He is wherever YOU are my friend.

“Oh ye of little faith,” he must whisper. “If I said I will never leave you, why are you always searching?” “Hush now, I am here.” I say the same thing to my daughter, “Mommy, is here, it’s okay.” As if she needed reminding, may be you needed reminding Jesus is here, and available to us. I left the park feeling at peace, I felt loved, reassured and stronger than when I had come. I was a storm of emotions. I cried when I saw those ducks, so at peace and undisturbed by all the chaos of this world.

On the ride home a song came on that said, “When I see a flood, you see a promise”. The song is “Know You Will by Hillsong”

I cried again but tears of hope, that God is the one who sees (El Roi) and hears (Elohim Shama). Stay encouraged friends and Happy Reading!