I sit this morning on the rocky shoreline of Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior. Many years ago I really enjoyed coming here and simply watch and listen to the lake. Its wave crashing against the shore, the vastness of the horizon, and the “stillness” that I found here. Like so many things in life that draw, that desire to be on the North Shore faded, life got busy, there were other places to explore. But now, in recent years the draw is back. I want to explore and experience the sights and sounds that the North Shore offers. I’m even planning an motorcycle trip around the Superior either later this year or next summer for sure.
As I’ve been sitting here I reflect back on the last half year or so and I noticed a similarity between my draw to the big lake and my draw toward God. The beginning of the year was a wild and wonderful time being with God. It started on a retreat I was on in early December and continued through the end of April when I was out west for a conference and then spent a couple of day at The Potter’s Inn in Colorado. What a wondrous time that was – pondering, prayer, presence, personal, practical. I was on a spiritual high. God was right there, I could just sit and be with Him.
Move ahead to today and the last couple of months have been rather “boring”, if I can use that word with regards to my relationship with God. It’s not that I haven’t spent time with God but it hasn’t been the same. Prayer isn’t quite what it was, reading isn’t as exciting and enlightening, being present with God is filled with distractions and a cluttered mind. I guess you could say that life has caught up with me. The “I thought I knew” has turned into “Did I get that wrong?” My faith though strong has been dented a bit. My joy has not left me but it’s not as evident in the things I do.
I have more to say, but will save that for another posting.
My prayer today is this:
Lord, stir in me the desire to draw close to you again just as I am once again drawn to the North Shore. Rekindle my desire for You, stir my heart, renew my mind, restore my soul.