WAITING IN THE RIGHT PLACES

Doing something that is out of our “comfort zone” now and then can be a good thing.  We see the world in a new way, and we often come back to the regular rhythms of life with a new perspective.

Last week I went north to the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area with several guys from First/The Open Door.  We joined several students from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and President Phil Amerson (former Senior Pastor here at First).

We were transported across Crane Lake, met the good folks at Zup’s Outfitters, and then were dropped on a rock in the middle of a large lake.  The guide said, “See you in four days at 9 a.m. here.”  From there we paddled out into the wilderness, found a camp site, and set up our tents.

One of the best moments took place one evening.  We had paddled around the lake to find a possible moose habitat.  Then, after sunset, a group of us paddled back and sat in the canoes, on very still water, to wait.  From the woods we heard the sound of a moose.  We waited.  We were very quiet.  Then, he stepped out of the tall grass at the edge of the lake and began to graze.

This may sound funny, but it was a holy moment.  The world got so dark it was almost impossible to see him, and then he was gone.

One of the best things that happens when we go away to a place like the Boundary Waters, or when we take a walk in the evening, or when we sit with the 3^rd chapter of Philippians is that we learn to hear again.  We learn to see with new eyes.

It’s interesting to me how often Jesus ends up healing people who can’t see.  If life is feeling thin, if the vision of your heart is failing, I would encourage you to make time to listen.  Do what you need to do to find “still water” where you can make out the presence of the living Christ in the world.  For many of us we find “still water” as we pray, as we give ourselves to the experience of worship, as we let the power of the Bible speak to us, as we share what we have in an act of serving and generosity, or as we join a small group.

Paul, in Philippians 4:5, remind us “The Lord is near.”  Sometimes we just need to find the “quiet water” and let our eyes…our hearts…our souls…adjust.