COFFEE ON THE DOCK

As the day emerges from darkness there is light but no sun; the gray clouds are hanging low and it is softly raining. Recently I complained about the lack of rain. But now there is an abundance of drizzling downpours. Okay, it’s true, I often see lack too quickly and provision too slowly. Somehow, after all these many years, I can still be quite childish at times; “not yet” does not mean “no, never.” O Perfect One, thank you for the simple lessons that force me to press more deeply into you. Teach me to accept the gait and volume of Your supply and to praise You at all times. 

A human tendency is to construct habits or circumstances with which we feel comfortable. These “comforts” are a trap, constricting, compressing and confining us. Comfort zones quickly become “dead zones” , stealing away true potential. God reveals His ardent love by propelling me into the joy of breaking through again and again . Would I ever step out in faith without His prompting? Would I cast anchor without approaching storms? I will never know, for His love never ceases. King of Glory, thank You for Your Divine impulse, Your compelling love and Your relentless pursuit. 

Dream World, then the first level of real world consciousness, eyes open, repeat, repeat, alert—that was hard. I’m fully awake now. On the Mountain of Transfiguration the disciples were very sleepy and they too slipped into the unconsciousness of deep sleep, but “ when they became fully awake, they saw his glory .” At times I slide into a sleepy state in my spiritual walk as well, only vaguely seeing God’s image in me. Fully awake, see His glory, this sounds very good. Lord, AWAKEN me, ALL of me. Let the brightness of Your dawning bathe my soul. Leave nothing untouched. Joy in the morning! 

It is impossible to think myself out of being offended. Actually, the opposite is true; the more I mull over offenses and discuss them with others, the more indignant I become. Our fuming deliberations deepen the pain, entrenching us in sullen exasperation and excessive defensiveness. Forgiveness is the key to turning our sorrows into joy since it places the situation into God’s hands; letting go of the wheel is the only sure path to healing. O Lord My Keeper and Defender, into Your hands I commit my heartbreaks. Keep me out of the way of Your divine work so Your Mercy may prevail.  

I have been through many small tremors, but only once through a genuine earthquake. Having already lived in Costa Rica for a couple of years I had become so accustomed to small tremors that I didn’t even notice the big one until the ground began to truly heave. It is disorienting to discover that everything can be shaken at once and it can last for such a long time. We don’t expect the very ground on which we live to convulse, but sometimes it does. In those bewildering moments, on what will I stand? Father, You have proclaimed: “The Lord will be your confidence”. Lover of my soul, You’ve set my feet on solid rock. 

Ordinary daily actions should be viewed as the worship of God as much as the sacrifice of the altar or the work of the high priest when he went within the veil. God calls us to do whatever we do in faith and obedience to Him. Even the most routine, mundane things of life become holy when done “unto Him.” There is no secular versus spiritual for the true believer; there is only surrendered obedience and faithful stewardship. Lord, you carefully formed me and placed me in this world. Keep me in a right frame of mind as I live before You. Do not let me swerve into false a dichotomy. Father, there is only You.  

Several doors in my life are creaking; the front door, back door and car doors. Lubricant should clear this up easily, however, it does no good for it to be present but not applied. This chorus of creaking is now a crisis and I can bear it no longer. Maintenance is mandatory. My inner life is no different; I often allow spiritual creakiness to become a crisis before taking action. Again, the solution can be present yet remain unapplied. Father, grant me grace to act. May dryness of soul have no place in me. Thank You for the oil of joy, which bathes and penetrates each part offered to You.