Pastor Richard ( Taz ) Pickett, OM, EM recently posted a picture of him on the water kayaking. It inspired me to reflect on what it means to feel alive, connect with nature, God, living in the moment, and joy.
I went white-water riving rafting once, and it was a level 5, which is the roughest of the bunch. I am not a naturally physically active sort of person, but I do make an attempt to do something active while on sabticals to stay balanced.
When my sister, and my brother of my heart, got to the location, we were assigned a particular raft. Apparently, the guy in charge was a handsome fellow and a gaggle of girls rushed to our raft rather than their own. We smiled, shrugged our shoulders and waited. Then an excited group of young men decided to rush in front of us and took another raft. Again we smiled, looked at each other and waited. This continued. Admitedly, a small part of my being was asking, "just how nice and patienct are you going to be here?" Yes, we ultimately ended up in the very last raft. Being, the last to enter the craft we were all the way in the back. Yes, I was a little disappointed. I wanted the brother of my heart to have an extrodianary experience, as he had very little experiences in his life.
However, when we pulled out, the craft turned around, and yes...we were in front. We looked at each other with smiles so bright it would put the angels to shame.
When we hit the rapids...the crisp smell of the water and forest...the incredible up's the down's...the cold water splashing onto our faces...the water filling up and draining from the raft... There was no time to think. Alls you could do was paddle and experience being "in the moment." It was a thrilling, empowering ride. I never in all my years have ever felt so alive (including handgliding off a mountain in Austria). I also never felt so safe. It was a perfect moment. Yes, it was just an expression of what my mind, body, and soul was experienceing at the moment, but I heard an Angel giggle and God's Budda belly-like laughter. It was pure joy.
Thank you, Heavenly Father for teaching us patience and for being able to reap the rewards. Thank you, for allowing me the opportunity to give the Brother of my heart a life-time experience he will never forget. Thank you, for allowing me to understand what it finally means to "be in the moment." Thank you, for teaching me what it feels like to be alive and exhilerated. Thank you, I now understand the difference between being happy and Joy. Thank you for protecting us and wrapping us in your embrace so that we could give our hearts into what we were doing without fear and reservations. Most of all, Lord. Thank you, for the opportunity to connect with you and the paradise you created for us. I am grateful and without hesitation can say, "I love you with all my heart." Finally, I pray that all of your creatures big and small will have the same opportunity of your grace and perfection that experience of a "perfect" moment in their lives in whatever form that maybe. In Jesus name, I pray. Donna
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Psalms 96:11-13 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.
1 Peter 1:8-9 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
“Joy is the serious business of Heaven.” ~ C. S. Lewis
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