Welcome to my latest series, which hopefully will encourage you to seek the Lord and help you discover the wonder of allowing The Word to lead you to One Word, which will walk you through your new year well! If I haven’t lost you, stay with me! Today’s post was first published on January 27, 2012, on Beneath the Surface: Breath of Faith, my first personal blog. I have revised it a bit, as my writing style has changed. Funny how the initial style of my writing is different, but the heart, I think, is still the same. I hope I have grown a bit from these early days of sharing, not only as a writer but as a disciple of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord. This post was originally titled: The Lessons of Less: Take Me to the River. I hope it blesses you.
The Voice
Early morning. I feed the pets and prepare myself for my “quiet time”. The thought comes and is somewhat startling in its interruption into the space of my own mind. I hear, “Come away with me, alone”. I pause, gatherng my things. I hear it with more clarity. Directly addressing my immediate plans. Come away from the busyness of your quiet time.
Oh, boy. I sense a gentle parental tone in the quietness of this still, small voice.
Come away from all of your big ideas for yourself, me, and others. Come away from your agenda, away from your thoughts, perceptions, expectations, frustrations.
I confess I am stubborn. Thickheaded. Coincidentally, Italian. Not that it matters. Just sayin’. This morning, I heard Him. God…or at least I thought so, and clearly He wanted me alone. You’d think the reality of this would bring me to my knees.
True confession here: I didn’t want to make the trip. I felt God calling me away with Him, and truth be told, I had more important things to do. Yes, you heard me right. Please hold your judgment. If we are being honest, I can’t be the only one who occasionally thinks they know better than God, right?
The Argument
You see, there are obstacles…after all, the dog stares at me through pleading eyes with happy anticipation as I get dressed.
It’s not like I don’t have a “quiet time”. Planned. I rationalize, How can I go for a walk, or even get out of the door with only the purpose to be with you, Lord? Lord, just look at this dog. Surely it’s selfish for me to walk without Him. No camera? You know I love to capture the beauty of your Creation. No camera. Just to walk alone? I’ll miss something, for sure. (Already I am missing something!) But, I reason, at least I should walk briskly to get some exercise. That would be OK, right? I feel the quietness respond.
No itinerary,
No motive, or agenda…
away with Me.
Finally, I go. Call me, the reluctant disciple. But here I am, eventually. Hair in a messy bun, fresh coffee drip stains on my untucked, white shirt, but eventually, I show up.
My Crowded Mind
As I walk on the beach feeling unsure, He speaks to me. He tells me my head is crowded; reminds me of how I used to walk alone with Him along the shore. Many years ago. Early in my Christian walk. Early in my journey of seeking Him. With the only purpose of being with Him. I forgot – how forgetful I am…I remember when no dogs, no camera, no agenda. No mission-oriented search for stones. Only empty hands, and an open, expectant heart.
Soul Distraction
He tells me my mind is busy and too crowded. He tells me my soul is distracted. Really? I walk the full length of the beach.
The hissing, roaring waves chase the shoreline, and my head is crowded with resistance to this very moment. Finally, as I approach the place where the ocean and the river meet in a glorious union of strength and gentle perseverance, I am ready… to listen.
Peace Like A River
In this place, one stands where the distant roar of the waves is heard. But as you get closer to the end of the coastline, the river begins to make itself known. The trickling of the current teases the senses and sends a sweet invitation to peace, tranquility, and calm. Gentleness. Finally, I realize my mistake. As I walk alongside the river, my mind begins to quiet.
The ocean reminds me of the demands, distractions, and presence of my earthly life. Roaring, hissing, commanding my attention. Yet the river ushers me into a peaceful, stillness, quietness. The promise of His Presence. Now. Forever. The Lord desires this intimacy with each of us. So often we complicate the beauty, simplicity, and magnificence of this truth. We let the roar of the ocean drown out the trickle of the river. To the detriment of our souls. May we pause, listen, and be refreshed- for only in the coming away can we be restored and ready to face the ocean of tomorrows ahead. Amen?
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.
John 7:38
Lord, I thank you for the lessons of less that you want to teach me. That you, being God, would want to walk with me, talk with me, spend time with me.That you desire to touch each of us in the deepest places of our mind, heart, and soul. You long to free us from the hold of earthly distractions that we may enjoy the precious promise of your presence. Let us never take this for granted. But when we do, return to you again, comforted by your Faithfulness and Everlasting Love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for more revised, refreshed lessons from the archives of my One Word journey!
Enthusiastically, Dawn
Enthusiastically, Dawn 
2 responses to “One Word Lessons: Less”
I spent an intentional day away last week to ponder how the year has gone and to think about the next year. It was harder than I thought to stay away from distractions, but more fulfilling to succeed in it (more or less, ha). Going slow and doing less are goals for me. :)
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I am so glad that you are doing this little series on a word for the year. I have been starting that process thinking about it mulling it over but had not gotten too far this is exactly what I need to help me think through the process. I have been doing this for quite some time and it is always interesting to see what word comes out in the end.
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