Good Morning, Readers. I pray you enjoyed your Freedom Day. Yesterday, was hot, sunny and still a nice breeze. Perfect for picnics and "social gatherings." In lieu of the Pandemic, many are taking it to the outdoors. Parks and Trails are becoming as crowded as Malls. Nevertheless, I thought you would enjoy learning a little about a place in my hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia. It is odd, because one usually doesn't find a water falls in a valley. Usually, you find falls at the top of a hill or mountainside. These are tucked away in the lowest valley. Which always gets me thinking about the things of God. In our valleys of life, we can find refreshing. We can find cleansing, and we can find serenity.
After traveling downhill a little over a mile, you come to a small private lake community. After going around the community, you turn off to the left and continue your decent. Down through the dark lush forest, you finally come to the falls just on the other side of the railroad tracks. No one would seemingly look for this type of scenery across the tracks, but there they are. The sound of rushing water, washes out the sound of an on coming train. It's interesting to me just how loud the Falls can be. The falls in life seemingly drown out all that is peaceful and we find ourselves in a place of turmoil, twisting and rolling into the rapids of emotions.
See, in my valleys of life I have always had a hard time hearing. I become so preoccupied with the valley, I fail to hear the powerful voice of God. With everything rushing around me at one time, and the feeling of being pinned in by my circumstances, I want to run like the bubbling, ragging circumstances around me. So, why do I prefer to sit on the rock and just be still here in this hidden place? Because, I came to the valley by choice. I am in control. I decide how close to the edge I get. I am the one who gets to decide when to come and when to go.
See, in my valleys of life I have always had a hard time hearing. I become so preoccupied with the valley, I fail to hear the powerful voice of God. With everything rushing around me at one time, and the feeling of being pinned in by my circumstances, I want to run like the bubbling, ragging circumstances around me. So, why do I prefer to sit on the rock and just be still here in this hidden place? Because, I came to the valley by choice. I am in control. I decide how close to the edge I get. I am the one who gets to decide when to come and when to go.
Oh, that life were like these Falls. We could decide the twist and turns and drop-offs of our days. But, we are not in control. God decides our valley moments. God decides our hills and our mountain top experiences. When we walk away from God and try to control our own lives we lose. We experience trials that God never intended for us. We get so close to the edge that many times we fall, only to find ourselves in a worst situation. God orders our steps. God numbers our days. God decides our times for they are in His hands.
ACTION STEP: Take time to stop, look and listen. The things we learn the first few years of life really does matter. We are not animals and yet often times they are smarter than we are. When they are frightened, many times they stop. They give us the "Deer in the headlights" look and stand. Not people. We run harder and faster never looking at where we are going. The Bible tells us, "...be still and know." Take time to stop today. If things are rushing around you, listen to His still small voice. Our Father wants us to hear Him. Our Savior gave His life for us, what more could He do? The One who created the Falls in life, can safely hold us in His hands. He has got this. He has got the Pandemic, the economy, the racial divisions, the leaders of nations and nothing is too hard, or too big for Him. Now, sit and rest.
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