In the start of her book "Living Simply" Joanne Heim creates a wonderful mental image of simplifying our life in a comparison to how Michelangelo once commented about his work. He said simply that he saw the angel in the marble and carved until he set him free. She suggests that if we are searching for quality of life we have to chisel at the chunks of marble..our life weighted down with stuff...paring away at the sharp edges, corners, flaws.
Let’s think about this...we can try alone to chisel.. to figure it out, to make it better, to refocus and pare away the stress and excess. To simplify and feel free. But the fact is:God-- the maker of the universe-- is offering a simple way designed for freedom. The road God wants to lead us on is narrow and simple, not broad and complicated to follow.
God invites and urges us to walk with Him on the narrow and simple road--to abide with Him, to remain in Him. DAY BY DAY. MOMENT BY MOMENT. To grow in our knowledge and understanding and reflection of Him and find life...real life...life to the full.
Life is hard. I am not telling you otherwise. God himself said in this world there will be trouble. I am in no way downplaying that life and its externals are often downright less than simple. But the fact of it is in the midst of it all He has come to give us peace and freedom. Both in the calm and in the storm, we can find the hope for freedom in the footprints of Jesus who directs us to God’s footprints.
Can you hear Him saying this to you? Each line is taken from the bible.
"My child ,
Come away with me by yourself
And get some rest
Be still and know that I am God
I will satisfy you with good things
And restore your strength
I will waken you morning by morning
And I myself will teach you
I will direct you in the way you should go
My compassion never fails
Great is my faithfulness
Wait for me
Put your hope in me
And you will not be disappointed
You are mine and I love you
Your Abba Father" (Joanne Heim 2009)
What will we say to His invitation each day? He is waiting. Let's seek Him... Let's walk with Him... Abide with Him and find life. Not a crazy busy full life but abundant life overflowing with an abundance of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness. And let’s give Him glory for what wonderous things He has done.
Let’s go away with a song in our heart. Because ultimately it is all by Him and Through Him and to Him. To Him Be the Glory.
(click on the link below to hear the song and watch video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH6QbH7wXgs
