In the Coolness

I often hear people talking about how they feel closest to the Lord when the sun is shining down on them. The warmth emanating from that giant star in the sky reminds them of the warmth of the love of their Heavenly Father.

And I get that. I really do.

But, for me, it’s in the coolness that I find that I sense the presence of God the most.

Every morning when I make my way downstairs, I start the coffee and then open the sliding door to our deck. And when that cool air hits my face I’m immediately refreshed, awakened. I step outside, stand still for a minute and just let it wash over me.

Right there, in that brief moment, I feel a stirring in my heart. It’s in the coolness that I feel closest to my Savior.

Lately, my soul feels kind of weary and dry. I love having my kids home in the summer. Really I do.

But now that they are a bit older and they have their own social lives and activities I feel like I’m constantly running this way and that way and all the while still trying to maintain our home, keep everyone fed and oh, you know, do that other tiny thing called running a business and write books.

During the summer season I feel like I’m never alone. And it struck me this week that what I’m craving is a little bit of heart-space.

Space to actually feel my feelings and think my thoughts.

Space where no one asks me when I’m going to the store for more food.

Space to sit for five minutes and type out a paragraph without interruption.

Space to be with my Savior and hear Him speak words of affirmation and truth over me.

Space to just…be.

The thoughts in my head seem to be swirling around, looking for a place to land. And I don’t know when I’m going to get that space. Honestly, I don’t think it’s even a realistic goal in the summertime. My expectations might just be a tad too high. Sadly, this is a common theme in my life.

And it’s leading me to wonder if perhaps the real solution isn’t exactly what I think it is.

Maybe we’re not supposed to be looking for a way to escape from all of the stuff of life in order to find that space.

Maybe it’s not that I need a vacation or to wake up EXTRA early in the morning or sign my kids up for another camp so that I can have a break from the constant requests for snacks.

Psalm 118:5-6 says this, “Pushed to the wall, I called to God; from the wide open spaces, he answered. God’s now at my side and I’m not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me?” (msg.)

Are you longing for some heart-space and, like me, wondering where you will find it?

I can honestly say that I don’t think I’ve ever read the above passage of scripture or, if I have, I have failed to note that one particular line.

Think about it for a minute. When we are the most stressed, the most overwhelmed, the most scared, the most confused, the most ‘pushed to the wall’, He answers us from where He resides, in the wide open spaces. The spaces all around us that we can’t see or touch or understand but that we know exist because at the same exact moment that we call out for help, He is there. And, as He embodies the very essence of those wide, open spaces, we get the glorious benefit of them when feel Him at our side.

Friends, God IS the space our souls are longing for. He’s it!

Which means that, perhaps, the space can be invited into our hearts right in the middle of all of the craziness.

Perhaps what we really need to do is to simply just ask Him to meet us smack dab in the muckety-muckness of it all knowing that He brings wide open space with Him.

Perhaps it’s not thinking that we need to run away from all of life so we can get closer to Him.

It’s running TO Him while life is happening all around us and getting to experience that closeness, that space, right there in the chaos.

Perhaps it’s not wishing for hours and hours of free time that deep down we know will be nearly impossible to come by but, instead, receiving what He longs to give us in the here and now.

Perhaps the space can come in something as simple as standing out on your deck as daylight breaks, clutching your coffee cup and feeling the coolness of the morning washing over you.

Thank you for taking the time to meet me at the fence today dear friends,