I hope 2021 has begun with a modicum of peace and rest for you. If it hasn't, I hope you set aside some time and space to rest and regroup. A week back, I took some such time alone on my terrace to journal, with our dog Mocha being my only companion. I spent a good amount of time gazing vacantly into the large empty lot behind our home and allowing my senses to take in all the vibrant sights and sounds of nature at daybreak. After a while my eyes caught our puppy with her nose to the floor sniffing out insects, licking dust bunnies and rummaging in corners of the terrace for lizards and frogs. All the while as she did that, there were a host of birds that were perched on neighbouring terraces and trees in the lot, intently watching her, chittering all the while. I tried getting her to look up at them as they were now starting to stir. Stubbornly single-minded, she kept her gaze on the floor, tongue stuck on some ant and refused to budge. After a while, whole flocks of birds flew by at close range and it was a magnificent sight, for me at least, the silly dog missed the entire performance.
I was honestly bummed that my dog missed out on a chance to chase birds and get a good run out of it. I was disappointed that she chose to lick the floor and sniff the weatherbeaten corners of our roof rather than run with abandon alongside the crows and cranes and experience the thrill of the chase. I also had the sudden realisation that I’m so much like Mocha in this respect sometimes. God has given me a larger than life purpose and gift in this thing called life but I have wasted precious hours crawling rather than running. I have wasted time licking wounds of offence and getting sidetracked by every little distraction rather than keeping the bigger picture in mind and running like the wind towards my goals.
It brought to mind the verse that is my resolution for this year which is from 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 16-17 which basically says ‘Keep Praying, Keep rejoicing and Keep thanking’ (Christine’s literal translation)
The biggest struggle in applying that verse to my life (in the short span of this first month of 2021) has been in keeping my head far too close to the floor, refusing to lift my gaze and fix my eyes on Jesus. Instead, my nose has been persistent in sniffing out and pursuing non-issues while my tongue kept stubbornly getting stuck on the opinions and attitudes of others.
It's time to soar. Which can only happen when I look up at the wondrous goodness of God, the beauty all around that waits for me in each day and to stay close to him who holds my world in the palm of his hands.
You were born, not to crawl through life cowed down and defeated!
You were created to walk with head held high, confident of who you are and why you exist!
Soar high today and through this year - don’t let anything pull you down!
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)