‘This is my Beloved Son - listen to Him.’
Ministerial Meandering
‘This is my Beloved Son - listen to Him.’
The sunlight found its way through the trees of the forest to pick out the autumn colours on the narrow path that wound ahead of me. The leaves were coming down for sure. The continuo of a nearby stream rustled over rocks and mingled with the call of a flicker to his mate. Gracie would stop every so often to check that her human was keeping up. If I paused to take a photo, she too would pause up ahead, always alert to any change in my footfall.
The trail led under the old, disused ‘Dayliner’ railroad that once took passengers from Victoria to Courtney, and tripping the cross-ties was only an exercise for dry days; when wet, the rotted wood of the cross-ties was only waiting for you to slip, trip, and fall.
Looking up under an old bridge, I could see daylight between the ties, and at one time, on a previous walk, when Gracie had lost sight of me for a minute, she had gone the wrong way, and ended up on the bridge. When I called to her from underneath, she heard, and in her effort to locate me, nearly fell through the gap between the ties. It was an anxious moment for me - but Gracie seemed unperturbed, and came bouncing down the bank with a big grin, saying, ‘There you are!’
Today’s walk was a good walk, because I saw no-one - which is generally how I like my walks to be - just me and Gracie, and because, well, it’s not just me and Gracie - it’s when I talk to the Boss.
But this time I didn’t have a word to say, because He was talking to me - and I had some serious listening to do. It seems as though I had not been listening for some time, and it was about time I did, and He gave me this beautiful walk, all on my own with my dog, just for the purpose of making me aware of His hand in my life.
It appeared that I have been trying too hard - all in my own strength - to sort out some big problems that are, actually, too big for me to sort out, and leave me going round and round in circles. They have exhausted me in recent months, and left me empty and low - dissatisfied with myself and just about everything around me. Not a healthy place to be.
I am sure that the Boss would not use such an expression, so I will modify it for your sensibilities; ‘What the heck do you think you’re doing?’ - He said. (I’d like to add ‘Elijah’ to this, but I cannot claim such elevated status.)
‘Why, when I have told you so many times to bring your problems and burdens to me, do you insist on trying to sort out what is beyond you? Don’t you think I know what is tearing you apart? Do you think I can’t see the misery and muddle in your soul? Do you not remember what I said about seeking first the kingdom of God, and all the rest will come to you?’
Well, after that, I felt a complete prat, and didn’t have any sort of comeback at all. Where could I go? As Peter said, “Where shall we go, Lord? You have the words of eternal life!”
I felt as though I was one of those to whom Jesus said, “Are you still so slow to understand?”
Yes, I was - and I guess I still am. That’s why I needed to come away, so the Boss could take me on my own, with no distractions apart from the beauty of his creation and the animal he gave to look after me, and then to sit me down by water, listen to its music - and listen to His voice.\
I needed so badly to listen to His voice; maybe you do too. I am really going to make a bigger effort in future - He seems to want to still teach this old dog a few things.
Philip+