"Whoa! Slow down there girl..."

Yesterday was a beautiful November Saturday morning in Southern California and a group of us gathered at 8am in the Lake parking lot to head on out for our 2nd of what will hopefully be many Slow Downs.

This time around we headed up to Eaton Canyon Reservoir for an hour hike up the canyon to the waterfall. Though deceived early on by what was a waterfall- a very short one over a concrete wall- we continued on to our destination where we prayed, then scattered to our own spots to reflect and pray in this beautiful area 20 minutes from the Pasadena city limits.

My decision to join the others, some I knew and some I met with for the first time, was one of necessity yesterday as I found myself in the midst of a pretty tough struggle of my own and some troubles with some people I love dearly. Escaping in to nature has been a constant in my life, a way to talk to God and clear my head. I've just traded the banks of the Columbia River and Leslie Groves Park for the foothills and beaches of So Cal.

For me it is pretty clear way to be with Him as one notices the vast slopes on either side of you with shrub and tree jutting out at different angles, some in good shape, others not. The striations in the rock and dirt showing where water once rose to. The falling water and the still water downstream. The group of birds taking flight from their perch above you. The tumbling rocks down the side of the mountain next to you that makes you nervous, should I move?

As I look around, it hits me that I am in the presence of things man had no control over. We maybe created the hiking trail up there and some of what is seen around us there but by and large the foundation of it all was put there by something bigger than any of us humans.

So, on this journey yesterday, in my desperation, I cried out to Him. Jesus, guide me. Tell me what to do and how to see this present situation I and my family are in. Speak to me. Pleading with God. He was silent.

At least in English he was silent. I kept on crying out until my body was too tired and my heart was angry. Why do you not say anything? Then the birds took flight and the rocks came a-tumbling and I raised my head and felt the warmth of the sun on me and knew that God heard me. In an inexplicable way, I knew in my heart, deep down inside, that He heard me. And His answer for right now, was to just listen to me.

Flash Forward to tonight at Warehouse and the sermon from John 15. A scripture I have heard taught many times before and yet I still can't receive well. Not all of it at least. Jesse Oakes, one of the High School Ministry Staff, shared his observations on us, the branches and God, the Vine.
God calls us to abide. To sit in the La-Z-Boy recliner. To simply sit there.

For me, there is a breath that finally is released upon knowing this, to be encouraged that what God wants for me to do is sit in His presence. To not get stirred up by troubling circumstances by feeling some compelling need to say the right things or make the right decision. To not miss out. To hit all the gophers in the Chuck E Cheese arcade. There is this feeling that I need to be able to "do" it all. But, God at times just wants me to be there. Sitting in the recliner. Or in yesterday's case on the big rock in the middle of brush and bugs in a canyon. He just wants me to sit and listen and look and wait.

I confess though that it is so hard for me to do or remember to do and often go through much heartache and stress before being able to stop.

It's really like God is John Wayne up on his horse (which is me) and he is gently pulling the bridle in his gentle all knowing voice soothing me to stillness with the words, "Whoa there girl! Slow down. Slow down."

We soon hiked back out, chatting our way to the cars, gathered at a restaurant for lunch, shared some bits and pieces from our experiences, and soon headed out on our separate ways home. I hope that we are able to make this a consistent practice to allow God to be John Wayne in all those movies where he rode a horse and help teach us to slow down and be still before Him. Amen!