The Open Door

In winter the doors are shut where we live. It is cold! But in spring, it is a delight to open the door, let in fresh air and to look at the new green leaves on trees.

We shed coats and gloves and go through open doors to take a walk without all the layers of winter. Plenty of us are walking more than ever because that is what we can do with gyms closed. Walking can give a great uplift to our spirit; and how we need to get away from all the bad news and take in the beauty of spring. We can feel renewed like nature around us stretching and producing something new for others to see.

Because God is infinitely creative he can restore us in surprising ways. Today on a long walk by a river I paused on a bridge and looked down to see on the small shore a couple of women with their children in swim suits frolicking in and mainly out of the very cold melted snow water. They were having a wonderful moment, and the mothers were enjoying sitting on chairs just watching them and nodding to each other.

It was a glimpse of a mini vacation, and I realized it was just what I needed from what has seemed an endless time of constant demands. I can't get on a plane or go away, but by putting myself in a relaxing scene, it can be a time to feel the warmth of the sun and hear the rushing river beneath my feet: A river that, like the spirit, keeps moving us from one place to another. And that river knows where it is going and is powerful to lift and move us onto paths that are ordained for us. 

God has set before us an open door. Let us boldly go through the door we need today and into His marvelous light.

Hummingbirds

A small hummingbird came to visit me early this morning. I watched quietly as it took sips of water off a rose leaf outside my window. Such a small bird requiring only a few drops of water to be refueled. And then in a second it flew off at top speed.

I felt watching that this was a little visitor from above, perhaps with a message. The birds are free to fly. They come visit in season, and they have to stop to have a sip of pure water now and again.

We, like hummingbirds, especially in this season, need to find where our drops of refreshment are. We need to stop beating our wings and flying around at a terrific pace in order to benefit from the times we are in. We are in a place where we can find new places to pause and rest and rehydrate, drinking in all the drops of joy and peace God wants us to have.