The office was getting stuffy and I needed to stretch my legs, so I decided to take a quick walk over to the bank to pull money for sushi dinner at Musashi's tonight. (Yes to sushi!!) I heard there was a snow alert and I didn't want to get caught up in another snowstorm (think Thanksgiving week), so I bundled up and rushed out, bracing my body for the wind.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the wind was actually a gentle breeze, and it wasn't all that cold. I slowed my brisk pace to a leisurely one and took in a deep breath of fresh air. Mmm.. so much better than the stale office air. Even my brain started to feel like it was coming alive again after hours of being immersed in spreadsheets and emails.
I looked around as I walked. Two mothers with their children walking to the Children's Museum. People waiting at the bus stop. Store fronts. Even though there wasn't anything particularly spectacular to look at, I was enjoying myself as I took in the activity around me. It just felt good to be outside and take delight in the world that God has given us.
It's been a while since I have been able to just take delight. Life has been rich and good lately, but super busy. Days have been filled with work, deadlines, planning, driving, meetings, parties - things that are very important to me and mostly enjoyable. (The parties and meetings, not the driving or deadlines.) But I have been living from one thing to the next. My schedule has been so packed that if I am not doing something, I am planning for the next thing coming up. Life is a marathon, but I have been running at a sprinter's pace!
Today, on this short walk, I started thinking about how God might have felt that first week of the world. Those first 6 days, God was hard at work. I mean, He had to separate light and dark, design the science of every ocean wave, come up with the life cycles that fish would have, craft each intricate detail of a single leaf, decide how many eyes man should have - just to name a few things. I am pretty sure it was easy for Him, but it was still work! Six of those seven days spent creating His masterpiece, he was focused on making things just right. I kind of imagine Him maybe investing the whistle, whistling as He worked, eyes sparkling with true joy.
He worked hard those six days, and on that seventh and final day, He rested. I personally would like to think that He chose to rest on that seventh day to just... take delight. What kind of Artist doesn't just take a moment after working hard to take delight in the work of his hands? Sure, many would enjoy it for the ages to come, like any great work of art. But, I bet God just wanted to bask in the lovely goodness of His creation.
I know that everything I do, I do unto the Lord because if it is in His will, it is good. For instance, right now, my new church community, the Missional Community, is in the process of building our church. The leaders are hard at work setting the foundation, learning, teaching, meeting with people, praying, etc etc. The other members of the body are building bonds, uniting in heart, and working together for His kingdom. This is definitely a time for that kind of preparation and anything good takes some hard labor! Intense labor, actually. In the midst of all this preparation, it can be easy to forget the purpose for which we labor as we just get caught up in the day to day work, tired but pressing on.
Today, I was reminded that I am not just working in vain. The Lord is building his house and He is working through and in us with so much joy. He, like me, is awaiting the day when we can together take a step back and just take delight. We are working hard now, but surely, there will be a day when we will look back at our handiwork and be able to laugh together about the little hiccups along the way. Share memories and stories about the days when we were deep in the trenches. Be grateful that we have weathered each storm and came out victorious. When I think of that, I am filled with so much joy. Work isn't even work when I think about the end result!
Right now, I just need wisdom and discernment in pacing myself so that I don't run faster than Jesus is going. I want to keep in stride with Him as He shows me his plans and gives me the strength and tools to accomplish them.
Even people who run marathons pace themselves. They make sure to breath, take in some water (and sometimes nutrients), and keep putting one foot in front of the other toward the finish line. There is a glorious reward at the end of that race. For us, too, we live on this earth in eager anticipation of that Glorious day when Jesus will return to make all the wrong things right (at least, that is what I am waiting for!).
I have enjoyed winter for what it brings - occasional snow, opportunity to drink warm tea, wear scarves... But now, I am ready for spring. A season when the winter blues melt away and spring rains wash the world anew. When flowers come out from hibernation and the bees get busy doing their thing. When we start having longer days and I can walk to my car after work in the beautiful "dusk" of the day. When I can start running outside in prep for a real marathon maybe? Hehe.
Anyhow, I am sooo ready to take delight in the world that God has created around us. I am grateful for the wonderful people that I get to journey and build with. Bring on the spring!
