I am traveling on business and yesterday sure was long. Up at 4am east coast time so I could make a 6am flight to Atlanta only to be delayed. In 5 hours, I sure got to know the Atlanta airport well. I spent time in the chapel praying (terminal E), perused through the cool art displays (also in term E), got a mini-workout in by walking the underground tunnels instead of taking the trains, and actually ate breakfast AND lunch at the airport (Chick-Fil-A and Moe’s respectively). When I arrived in San Francisco, it was already a long day and I still had a meeting or two to check off my list. So an early dinner and early bed time were my final targets. I was in bed at 8pm and probably asleep within seconds.
I arose 10 hours later refreshed and ready to take on today. And as sleep refreshes us for each day, I was reminded how Jesus refreshes our life. This came to me during my morning workout which was a brisk walk in the 50F dark morning combined with my iPod praise music. And because I was walking very early during pre-business hours on the manicured commercial building sidewalks and parking lots, no one was around. So I sang along to my music — Jeremy Camp, Tree63, Tenth Avenue North, Aaron Shust — as I walked along. I couldn’t hear me because of my earbuds and no one else could either. It made for a wonderful workout and mini-praise session — the perfect way to start out the morning.
On my way in to the hotel I grabbed a banana and some yogurt as a pre-breakfast before my Jamba Juice. I enjoyed it during my morning devotions in Romans 12:14-21 and then read today’s Max Lucado which really hit home. I am copying it below as well as linking to it.
When my daughter, Jenna, was little I often took her to a park near our home. One day as she played in a sandbox, I bought her ice-cream, but when I turned to give it to her, her mouth was full of sand. Where I had intended to put a delicacy, she had put dirt. Did I love her with dirt in her mouth? Absolutely. Was I going to allow her to keep the dirt in her mouth? No way! I loved her where she was, but I refused to leave her there. Why? Because I love her.
God does the same for us. “Spit out the dirt, honey,” our Father urges. “I’ve got something better for you.” “I can eat dirt if I want to!” we pout and proclaim. We can. But if we do, the loss is ours. God has a better offer. He wants us to be just like Jesus!
“Create in me a pure heart, God, and make my spirit right again.” (Psalm 51:10 NCV).
The visual really hit home and our recurring persistence to “eat dirt” doesn’t surprise me.
Have a blessed day! I know I will.
…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net
