A Time of Reflection

Good afternoon!

I wrote this post a year ago…and this Colorado morning feels much like that morning did.  Cold, foggy, snow covering most everything still and I remember sitting by the window, coffee in hand, reflecting.  This was such a good reminder for me…that slow progress is lasting progress and all progress is worthy of praise.

Hope this blesses you today as much as it did us,

The Johnston’s

Brrrrr it is cold  here with beautiful frost all over the trees, the flowing brown ornamental grass, the fences and even the horses.  It gets thicker and thicker as the morning goes on.  It is a piece of art that continues to progress… little at a time.  If I sit here and stare at it continually, it doesn’t seem to change.  But when I leave the window for a while; fill up my coffee cup, make a magnet tower with the boys, have a great visit with my mom, and come back I can see the changes.  The frost is thicker, more defined, more prominent.

The frost and the progress of the masterpiece outside my window feels like my soul journey lately… slow and quiet, but ever evolving.  We live in a culture of fast, hectic, and busy.  Crazy busy.  And that brings a sense of wanting instantaneous satisfaction.  We want everything now:  Success now.  Thousands of followers on social media now.  A home that is organized and clean and full now.  A bank account that is overflowing now.  Children that will self-entertain now.  But as I watch out my window this morning God reminds me that the precious things, the things that matter, take time.  They are a work of art that continues to progress little by little.

Jesus told the disciples in Mark chapter 6 to “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while” .  At this time there were many people who were coming and going and it was a time of what we would call crazy busy.  Sometimes we have to press the pause button and “come away and rest for a little while”.  When life gets crazy and all-consuming it is good to take some time.  Day in and day out can feel like a struggle sometimes, like we aren’t going anywhere but in a circle.  But as I sit this morning watching the frost grow thicker and thicker on those bushes I pause, rest, reflect.  And I can see the progress… little bits over time.

Maybe you need to pause, rest, find a secluded place, and reflect on where you  are and how far you have progressed.  I found so much comfort this morning in my time of reflection and I praise Him for the progress.  Instead of feeling anxious, stuck and frustrated, I am grateful that I have paused long enough to recognize the growth and to thank Him for exactly where I am on this journey.

Blessings,

Tana