Renewal. That has been my word of intention for 2023. God has been so faithful in His outpouring of transformation of mind, body, and spirit this year. I have found that as I am more and more transformed God continues to use me as a beacon of light to others struggling. As I have experienced in my own life, transformation is often times a slow and drawn-out process. I know that God has His own definition of time and that usually doesn’t line up with my desiring timeline. The beauty about trusting in the Lord’s timing though is that along the way we are giving these beautiful gifts both small and large.
I truly believe that these gifts often come in the form of lessons, people, and metaphors. Sometimes when we are trekking up a mountain, we can only see a few feet in front because we are so focused on not losing our own footing or we look too far ahead and become immensely overwhelmed with the prospect of the future climb. The lesson of the pathway we are walking often is dependent on the ground we walk upon. Are we grounded and have a firm foundation so no matter what terrain we know that we can absorb what is to come? Or are we timid in our abilities to conquer any terrain so we end up focusing so much on the ground we travel on that we miss all the signposts and beauty that surrounds us?
Often the gifts that are displayed along the journey are somewhat hidden in the scenic views. Sometimes though they are blaring at us in stark contrast and other times they are immensely disguised in the trees. This is why it is so important to train one’s heart to be in a constant state of gratitude and love. When I approach my life from a viewpoint of gratefulness, I can clearly see all the gifts both miniscule and immense. This is due to the fact that gratefulness opens our hearts to a whole other world of possibilities. That’s the beauty of it because each moment can be seen from a lens that allows us to open our hearts to what God is trying to communicate.
Our God is not a distant far-off man in robes with no intention of ever being involved in our lives. That is a skewed and heart-breaking view of what a distant earthly father can be. This is not true of the God of the Universe. He is a loving omnipresent God with every intention of being our bestie, the perfect parent, and our trusted counselor. He wants to communicate with us not just daily but moment to moment. That’s where the gifts come in- they are His way of telling us how deeply loved and known we are. Our heart must be in the right place though to be able to experience them to the fullest.
Lessons, people, and metaphors dance into our lives with every intention of being digested. Yet, if we operate from a place of bitterness, anger, or internal chaos we could miss the beautiful divine dialogue that God is longing to have. As I am journeying through my life, I hope to always operate from a place of deep empathy, sacrificial love, and unending gratitude. This is where the beacon of light originates from. This intricate and incredibly personal relationship with God that ignites fire to the flame of empathy, love, and gratitude. This fire not only warms my spirit and others seeking refuge, but it also lights the pathway for whatever road I may encounter. Renewal is just the beginning of the power that I hold within. As I create, love, write, speak, and listen, I am allowing space to let myself be known. The most beautiful aspect of renewal is that it has ripple effects of great multitude. To be known, and to heal is also to change the world. Vulnerability and renewal are two old friends that work together to thread the most beautiful quilt. My life is just one patch in an endless amount of material and yet each stitching has the power to move lives with just a pinch of light. Renewal. It is the beginning of an ongoing conversation about the beauty of God communicating with us.
