The perfect storm is resting over us for now about 36 hours or so. Rain and more rain. Yesterday I was out fell walking in the storm. I hiked about 10 miles along some high ridges up above our home, exploring. The wind and rain were playing around me; the higher I climbed, the more boisterous the play. At the top of Silver Howe I leaned into the gale at about a 30 degree angle backwards, arms lifted, and the wind held me up. This was a first where the Spirit held me in such a way.
At one point in the day, a little later and further along, the wind had died down and the fog was drifting in and out. I had rested in a crevice of a rock, getting some protection from the rain, listening with eyes closed to a sermon on sabbatical. When I opened my eyes the fog had settled more densely and I couldn’t see more than a few feet. I waited. A marvelous parade of sheep ghosted into my vision and just as quickly ghosted by, snuggling white on white into the fog. They apparently know where they were and where they were going.
I continued to wait. After another period of eyes shut, listening, resting, I opened my eyes and the fog had lifted a bit, enough to step out and move, if just a little. And so it went, one step opening to another.
And so I am being taught that when I can see nothing clearly, I am to rest and wait. When I can see only a little, I trust my Shepherd to keep me from falling or getting lost, like this, “Jesus, ok, where next should I put my foot, here or there?” I ask, breathe, and then my foot moves and I am Holy Ghosted along. So I learn to pray with my feet and legs. And soon I am arrived at home. And so I learn to walk with God.
While Vance wrestled and tested his limits with walking, learning, and leaning into the Wild Wind yesterday, I welcomed the sweetness of solitude inside our quiet cave. Oh, the sweetness! I get to be "at home" today. Soak me, Father, in your presence. And, He did.
Quiet unusual for us: While he was walking Vance texted me a link to the podcast on sabbatical. I listened. I wrote out notes on the talk, soaking into the soil of my heart this beautiful thought: "He who needs no rest, rested, to woo humanity to its much needed rest." I take great joy in God's continued and persistent reminders that Sabbath rest is why we are now here in this chapter of life. How beautifully He woos us to our much needed rest.
