It was our first day on the North Shore of
Minnesota’s side of Lake Superior. We drove up in intermittent fog yesterday
and this morning dawned with fog. I can hear the lake lapping at the shore but
I cannot see very much beyond a few rocks in the water below. I tried to snap a
photo only to find that my camera lens seems to have moisture spots marring the
photo, making it hard to decipher the image. Reminded me of this scripture
verse:
1 Cor. 13:12 NLT
Now we see things
imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect
clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know
everything completely, just as God knows me now.
So much of following Christ is a walk by faith and not by
sight. I’m trusting that the sun will come out on this vacation day and burn
away the fog so that I can see more of Lake Superior to revel in God’s
beautiful creation.
In daily life we don’t always get to see the whole picture;
only what is right in front of us. After one comes through a time of struggle,
then you can appreciate not having seen beforehand all that would happen to
you.
Right now, I believe that God has given me a vision for Jim
and Donna’s future that means a move to downsize to a town home so that we can
conserve our time and energy to be able to continue working for another ten
years, Lord willing. It’s a little scary because of our financial situation. I
wonder how God will work a miracle. I wonder what little steps along the way
will lead us to the final end: settled
into a town home, ready for the next years of our life. Indeed, I feel a dense
fog obscure the pathway and I need to follow by faith as God takes my hand
through this next maze of twists and turns as the fog may thicken before we
will see the light at the end of the tunnel. We will need faith, courage and
strength to persist to the end.
I never thought I would get to this point of feeling ready
to leave our lovely Golden Lake home. We have enjoyed so many wonderful years there
since building it in 1983, and have shared it with many people who have been
blessed by God’s goodness to us.
Our next home will be shared as well through our gift of
hospitality, no matter how humble. It will be God’s goodness to us in the land
of the living meant to be shared, giving the glory to God.
CHALLENGE:
Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior is my favorite
retreat spot. I sense God’s presence there in the beauty of the landscape. He
has gently revealed many lessons as I slow down to take time to listen. When
was the last time you took time for a retreat? Perhaps the “fog” of your
circumstance is telling you to slow down and listen before moving ahead in
faith.
(Written on our Labor Day vacation 2011)
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