A Walk Around the Lake

As part of my celebration of my healing that has happened, I went to the lake this morning. When I am at the lake, everything that is happening seems to leave my body and my mind. I become consumed in the awesome wonder of God’s creation. If I ever need to calm down, I go to the lake. When I was in the hospital a lot this past semester, I often closed my eyes and I would go to the lake in my mind. I would imagine the birds and hear them. I would feel a sense of calm and peace wash over my body as nothing else could do.

The lake is the closest thing to heaven that I have ever been to. Everything about it is peaceful. It’s entirely God’s creation. The birds. The gators. The grass. The trees. The water. All of it is His. And that is what makes it so beautiful.

I wanted to share with you some photos I took this morning while I was at the lake. To me, photography is one way that I express myself. In taking photos of God’s creation, I open myself and others to the beauty and wonder of this earth. I want my photos to capture the beauty in the mundane. Because our God is so beautiful, so majestic, so absolutely awesome and amazing. He created each one of us and He created everything we see.

The first photo I want to share is of a flower. Flowers mean a lot to me, because on the plane ride from NJ to FL after holiday break earlier this year, I sat by a man who was a Christian photographer. I know that God placed me in the seat right next to this man. I sat with my face against the window, watching the sun escape down in the horizon, the light slowly fading. God spoke to me through the song I was listening to and the sunset. I quickly grabbed the back of a checkbook to take notes on what God had told me and this man asked me what I was writing. When I told him briefly about my God moment, he gave me two magnets, one of which had Luke 12:28a on it: "And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you?" How did this man know to give me that verse? I didn't really go into any detail about my life, yet he knew that was a verse I needed to hear.

That simple act of giving me a magnet has helped me in multiple ways, because every time I see a flower, it is a reminder of how much God cares for each of us. Even in our deepest and darkest moments on this earth, we know that God cares for us, very deeply, deeper than anyone on this earth can.

The next photo is of the lake, where I spend a lot of time, reading and understanding God, trying to grasp all that He is in this world- all that He is in my life and my very being here on earth. The more I understand God, the smaller I feel. The bigger God seems. My issues and problems begin to become smaller in the awe and power of who God is. A different perspective on life emerges. It's no longer a daily struggle, but rather an opportunity to find out more about God.

The next photo is special to me because I have a passion for the sun as well as its rays. For much of my life, I have spent it in darkness due to abuse, neglect, homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, loss and my mental illnesses. There is something so powerful, so unique about the sun. It determines the difference between day and night. Without the sun, there would be no flowers. Much of the God's beautiful creations would be lost. We would be nothing without the light. In a big way as well as on a smaller scale. 

In each of our lives, there is some light in our darkness. And that light is derived from God. It is in the good that lies in each of us. In the same way that God is love, God is also light. He shines light into our darkest places. His light touches each of us in a unique way and as I stare at the rays of the sun, spreading in each direction, I am reminded of how God reaches each of us in a unique way, pointing us in our own unique but powerful direction.

The next photo is also of the sun. The sun is shining above a bridge. Often, I see a bridge as being a symbol of traveling from one place to another. Technically, that is what a bridge is. It helps us get over water. Some may say "troubled water." But this bridge is hidden behind the trees, only barely seen. God provides a way over our troubles.

In life, sometimes we don't always know where to go or how to go from here to there. Finances are strained. Relationships are strained. Our bodies are strained. We cry out for strength to get to where God wants us to go, where He is ultimately leading us. On each of our paths, we walk ahead, into the light of God, hoping and praying that we are making the right decisions. But God never leaves us. He is the light shining down on us from above. He is the love and the strength pouring into our lives. I know this because I feel Him each and every day. I would not get up in the morning if it were not for God. He continually shines His light into my darkness. He continually brings love into my being. And He always provides me with a way to get from here to there, even if it's not the easiest path.

The next photo shows the rays shining onto a bench. In many ways, I have felt God tell me to rest and just enjoy being with Him. Just rest, He says to me. You do not have to be all and do all. He tells me just to enjoy being with His beautiful creatures.  In many ways, I often feel more at home at the lake than I do in my own apartment. When I am at the lake, I am able to feel the presence of God in a very powerful way. I experience Him in everything around me. When I am at the lake, I am filled with peace and hope. Whenever I walk around, I feel Him. I see Him. And I feel that in many ways, our world has forgotten who He is. In the race to become the best, we have forgotten just to be still and know Him. We have forgotten just to be with Him and enjoy our precious lives. We have forgotten that our lives come from Him. Everything that we are is derived from who He is.

Take time to just be still and know...