Slow Burn: Why Slowing Our Pace Back to Nature is Fruitful

In this tense world that we live in, a huge roadblock is stress. It seems to occur frequently when we take ourselves and our circumstances too seriously. The last few weeks I have been grinding in my consulting practice. Feeling stressed, I decided to take a break and go to our house in the north woods. It is a beautiful pace on a large bay on a large lake surrounded by 60 to 75 foot trees. It is just the place to clear my mind by seeing some beautiful sunrises over the bay, feel a cool breeze on my face and just connect with God.

I can feel his presence when I see the sun rise over the bay, listen to loons sing, watch an eagle catch an updraft, a hummingbird swoop in within inches of my face and stare at me before going to the feeder, the sparkles on the water during the day, beautiful colors in the sky at sunset, a beautiful bird on the bird feeder, or a chipmunk running past me and stopping to look right at me as if to say hello.

God speaks to us continually. It is his nature, but not always in words. He flings glorious sunsets across the sky day after day. He speaks in the faces of loved ones. He caresses us with a gentle breeze on a spring or fall day that refreshes us and delights us. He speaks deeply in the depths of our spirit, where He has taken up residence.

The fact is that we can find Him in each moment—when we have eyes that see and ears that hear if we are paying attention. To do that all we have to do is ask our spirit to sharpen our spiritual eyesight and hearing. God rejoices each time we discover His presence. It means that we need to practice looking and listening for Him during quiet intervals. And if we do that, we will gradually find him in more and more moments.

This past weekend I had additional communication from God. It is called joy. My son and grandson visited the lake. The look of love in their faces and the laughter were an additional blessing. Because when we laugh, we can relax and know deep in our soul that He is God. When we desire His will above all else, life becomes much less threatening.

Laughter lightens our load and lifts our heart into heavenly places. I believe strongly that laughter rises to heaven and blends with angelic melodies of praise. My son has the ability to make ordinary circumstances seem hilariously funny. And my grandson standing on the deck of the boat shaking his booty in a dance because of a fish that he just caught is priceless. Just as I get pleasure out of laughing with them, God delights in hearing us laugh. God rejoices when we trust Him enough to enjoy our lives lightheartedly.

I have learned through many life challenges that I never want to miss the joy of His presence by carrying the world on my shoulders. As Jesus says in Scripture, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. My yoke is comfortable and pleasant, my burden is light and easily borne.”

His words assure us that all who wait for Him are blessed. Being in nature and laughing are freeing to me and allow me to be patient. One of my good friends has a hat that says,” "Immediate gratification is too slow for me.” Sadly, patience is a problem for me and many others in today's faced-paced world. We want answers from Him in the moment.

I don't know about you, but I like to plan ahead, make definitive decisions, and make things happen. There is a time for that but there is also a time for waiting—sitting in God’s presence seeking to trust Him with our whole being.

I have found that many of the good things He offers us reside in the future. While we spend time resting in His presence and rejoicing, He is preparing us for blessings. Because they are veiled in the mystery of the future, we can't see them clearly. Other blessings are for the present. I have found that the very process of waiting for God is beneficial. It keeps my soul on tiptoe as I look up to Him in hope acknowledging that He is in control and He is good. When I am struggling to understand why I have to wait so long I have to change my focus from relying on my understanding to trusting Him with all my heart and laughing and listening.

Scripture says, "Therefore the Lord waits expectantly and longs to be generous to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. Blessed, happy, fortunate are all those who long for Him since He will never fail them.” It also says, "In all your ways know, acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your path straight and smooth, removing obstacles that block your way.”

So, as I see the love in my grandson’s face, as I laugh at his jokes and his silliness, and as I see a beautiful sunrise, I am hearing God tell me that He has been waiting for me to feel His presence. He has been waiting to make my path straight and smooth.