Drifting
While visiting my parents recently, I took a friend to the bayou to introduce her to my love of paddle boarding and kayaking.My idea of heaven includes living in a cottage with a big porch overlooking Tom’s Bayou. (Which, ironically, is in my hometown of Valparaiso, which translates, “Vale of Paradise”. ~ A sure sign.)The water was rather calm that day, however, there was a bit of a current carrying us gently to the west.Not particularly noticeable if you were paddling in a consistent fashion, but as soon as you stopped paddling, you would discover that you were slowly heading back towards the west shore.A few weeks ago, one line in a sermon caught my attention. (Which was, in a sense, remarkable, as the preacher was my husband, and after 30 years, I still find myself quite distracted when he preachesJ)I don’t remember the exact context or scripture but I remember him commenting that, “Drifting is such an easy thing to do”.And I was transported back to the bayou.As long as I paddled, I was headed in the right direction. As soon as I stopped paddling, I began drifting back to where I’d come from.Yes. Drifting was easy. But it didn’t lead me to the place I needed to be. And in the end, I had to paddle so much harder to make up for lost time and distance.I don’t want to spend my life drifting. Therefore, each day must be lived with intentional strokes that will take me in the direction He is leading me.The most important time I spend must be abiding in Him. My dear friend, Cynthia Heald defines abiding as, “Sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening intently, with a heart to obey.” I’m finding that this doesn’t happen without me being intentional to make it happen.Therefore, I make it a priority to sit at His feet daily, to listen to Him in silence, to read from His Word and to ask Him for understanding, wisdom and direction.Following Him takes effort. Drifting is easy.Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. ~ Proverbs 3.5-6