Peek through to see treasure

I have missed more than one rich moment to view life through a wild kaleidoscope lens, to experience beauty, wonder and awe, to play hostess to the fragrant details of the world. 

To slow chew, sip and saver goodness. I have been my own worst enemy. I’ve stuffed the invitation, the one which says “come be dazzled” and “come live lavishly”. The gentle pastel coloured invitation tossed into the 'to do task' or 'deal with later'  pile or even worst still into the trash box, dismiss box of wanting to confront now. 

As if it was in good company there. I am certain that the wondrous, miraculous, exquisite God-designs were there all the days and years of my life. And I was there or here too. But we were often on opposite sides of a cavernous room, I, an overlooked.

Mercifully now I hear, see, smell and taste the invitation. I unwrap it. I open it. Small, Quiet, Still and Simple are the gifts. Even the packaging secured by a  satin bow is exquisite. And save it as the treasure it is. I was caught and held, distracted. But it wasn’t always by the glory of the tender gifts. Often I looked over, past, beyond and through. Is this abundance? Is this fullness?

Is this a passionate and exuberant yes to the invitation to enter into the small wonders, the stillness, and quiet that God lavishly offers? Into those places where we meet Him and hear Him. Touch holy and sacred. Live struck by how much He loves us. And rest in this truth. 

Yesterday I sat cross - legged in the grass in our garden, lost in my own world, designing and planting more greenery, pulling plants that are growing the the less than ideal place - also known as weeds - The joy of playing in the ebony soil was sweet. I raised my head from my work to look up to the sky that was slowly dropping tears onto me. I was lost in prayer, lost in a conversation full of questions not given any chance for the Lord to answer, leaving a sense of not wanting an answer. As I looked up to feel the words full upon me addressing my rhetorical questions, my seeking. God is good.

Standing up realising life is about the journey, not the ministry, not the perception, not the destination or completion as often is so easy to focus on - Rather that turning a little from me to another, accepting the invitation to be present, offering simple gift. We are made this way. By God, to be relational. Stories are life giving!!

We are our stories. Our stories are us. When we enter into small, everyday encounters we are touched by beauty. And we always feel less alone. We are made for this. This living in community. There is a fullness that comes from connecting, linking arms, trading stories and trading love for seeds. 

It is something to behold now. This being in the grip of glory. It is gripping me and I it. My neighbours are showing me how it is to be lived, quiet and awake to wonder, yes. But within a tapestry woven from threads of one to another. 

So to continue on this journey, I have decided to use this month to introduce you to some of my neighbours, some of our brothers and sisters in Christ. I plan to write each day to introduce you to another… 

Embrace the journey with me, 

meet those who we are privileged to learn from, 

to share our table with and see another shinning like of Christ. 

Let us walk through the opening to peek to see what glorious treasures are on the other side...