Good morning…
After writing yesterday’s post about 2025 trips being led my husband, Steve, I received the perfect follow up.
“I will always treasure the memory of my trip to Israel with Steve the year after my Mother went to heaven,” she wrote. “It was not only a learning experience but a healing one that God provided.”
“Now I’m financially unable to travel anywhere except to Atlanta, to family, to doctors,” she explained. “So I’m going to translate your wisdom more locally. EVERY time I venture to Walmart (no other local store for office or sewing supplies) I intentionally walk through to marvel at the other shoppers. The diversity of skin, language and family structure is like going to another world. And Lordy, the pickup trucks! So while I sinfully envy those of you who can go with Steve, let me find peace and pleasure in the local scene, to seek God’s beauty and lessons right where I am.”
Her honest email was so precious to me, placing our feet on common ground. “When God wants to teach us something new,” another wise friend had said, “God takes us on a trip.” My soul instinctively agreed, and my perspective broadened.
God takes us on trips every single day. It might be a trip to the grocery store, to the park, to the bank. It might be a trip to the hospital, to the coffee shop, to the house of a friend. it might be a trip to the church, to the zoo, to our favorite book store. A trip down memory lane. A trip down backroads. A trip, down, down, down, from our head to our heart. God is teaching us new things everywhere, at all times. Do we venture, marvel, intentionally walk?
In all of our familiar places, God sprinkles new things. As we process any envy which might threaten to pull us down, we are invited to pray, “God, let me find peace and pleasure in the local scene, seeking Your beauty and lessons right where I am.”
The one who listens to me, who carefully seeks me in everyday things and delays action until my way is apparent, that one will find true happiness (Proverbs 8:34, VOICE).
…Sue…
