It has been several days of gloomy weather with rain and a wintery mix. Leaving things dull and dreary. This morning I was surprised to wake up to a beautiful blanket of fresh fallen snow glimmering in the early morning light. As I sat working this afternoon I caught a glimpse of what seemed to be sunshine. So I got up and looked out the front window and sure enough there was the sun in all its bright shining beauty. I quickly made a cup of tea and bundled up. Heading out onto the front porch, I pulled up my metal milk bin, brushed off the snow and sat down facing the sun. Closing my eyes I basked in the light shimmering on my face, the warmth seeping into my skin, offering a healing moment.
As I sat there in the stillness I started to notice the things I often miss. Sounds of creation swirling all around me. I thought about how often we don’t slow down to notice the world around us. We pack our schedules so full that we are left exhausted, worn thin and on edge ready to break. For many of us I think we pack our schedules so full to keep up with those around us because that is what the world says makes us successful adults. Maybe, we also do this so that we don’t have to feel. Who wants to deal with the thoughts that swarm our heads and our hearts? However, what if we took time each day to slow down and just listen. Quietly spending some time with God out in creation. Knowing that he isn’t expecting anything from us and simply letting him love us in return? How would that change our days and how we go about things?
The sun continued to shine in and out of the clouds, so I took a deep breath and just listened. What I heard was a beautiful symphony of a winter afternoon. The tree branches rubbing together, while the few leaves left rustled in the light breeze. I heard in the distance the waves of Lake Michigan crashing madly against the lake shore. The gentle scraping of a snow shovel and cars splashing in the puddles as they drove along. All of this melted together as the sun made the snow twinkle all around me.
As we get ready to head into a new year I want to encourage you to slow down and listen. Take time out to sit in silence and let God speak to your heart. We were never meant to go go go all the time. We were created to rest and rebuild. Let’s take time to enjoy this beautiful (sometimes messy) life! Stop and bask in the sunshine!