Yesterday I had to drop my son off at UMD for an honors band festival so I thought I would take the opportunity to do a little hiking on the North Shore (Minnesota’s “coast” on Lake Superior). I spent about 5 hours hiking in Tettegouche State Park. I had two goals, take some nice pictures and spend some time with God.
My pictures ended up being about birch bark and pine cones (it was a macro-photography day) and my conversation with God took any number to paths.
As happens often my mind wander from the beauty surrounding me, the noise of the river crashing over the numerous falls and ripples to the quiet of the woods once I left the river valley. As I thought about these three things – surroundings, noise and quiet I couldn’t help but compare it to my journey through life of late.
One thought that came to me was that I haven’t been doing a good job living out one of my key beliefs – loving God. As I pondered this I came to see that lately I have been consumed by my surroundings – work, family, life, etc and by the “noise” this has brought into my time with God. I have been spending time with God but I haven’t been able to listen well, to be fed by the time.
As I left the river behind and entered into the north woods I was able to hear a lot of the sounds that were masked by the river. I have come to see that I need to readjust my daily and weekly routine so that I can get away from the “noise” and in so doing be in a better position to hear God, to be refreshed by God, to love God.
I’ll be spending the next few day figuring out a new rhythm of life to once again center my life on God so that I am better able to serve others.