Lisa-Jo says, it's Friday! And on Fridays we all write, our words free, five minutes of paintings pictures and laughing and celebrating writing, without worries or edits. Won't you come join us, and let your words be free, too? This week the prompt is still.
The water ripples at the touch of the duck feet and their furious paddling. They form a V to match their distant cousins who soon will take to the skies, crying their loud homeward cries and veering towards home. I sit still, my hands cupped around my phone, my feet in their new shoes dangling in front of me.
And I look at the harbor glimmering and the small shadow of me, and I think... Do you remember me? The question ripples like the ducks on the water and dips into my stomach and I tell Hannah, that in the end I ask Him, look Him in the face of this world - the cup of gelato dripping onto my hand and the sun's heavy hand on my skin and the people who color my life beautiful and rare, who tell me in their own way that to be still, and to still be still after all the silence seems full of nothing, is the only way forward.
And when I stand there in my dress and my new shoes and small shadow, and the bucket full of questions my heart keeps lugging around, I hear the reminder to be still, and be of good courage.
Because I still want nothing but to find Him. I still trust that this is all goodness, the mystery of provision and manna, the wonder of waiting. I still believe in Him though my questions roll on like storms and my eyes strain the horizon and my heart skips. I still go back, scraping up the slippery side of the mountain like the son, veering home like geese on the wing, like the ducks in the harbor back to their nest.
I still come home to Him.
Love,
Hilary
Love this:
ReplyDeleteAnd when I stand there in my dress and my new shoes and small shadow, and the bucket full of questions my heart keeps lugging around, I hear the reminder to be still, and be of good courage.
Ah, yes. To listen and be still. It takes such practice, such patience. But the more you do it, the easier it becomes. We chafe so at the wait, we want to just go run and find and DO whatever we believe will solve our most urgent problem.
But, when we pause, and be still, and be faithful, and trust, we find He is there, and has been there the whole time. And as you say, we come home to Him.
well, it took me a minute to get past "new shoes", as i just love new shoes :-)
ReplyDeletewhen i have had similar questions, and when i HAVE similar questions, i cling to the verse God showed me on 11/23/2000 (marked so in my Bible), "This God--HIS WAY IS PERFECT; the promise of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him." Psalm 18: 30.
may you be comforted by hope and expectancy as you take refuge in Him this day.
steph
I love that you ended with "I still come home to Him." because isn't that what we all long to do? Come home to Him? I know I do. And this was, as usual, another beautiful 5 minute friday from you!
ReplyDeleteHilary, sweet Hilary! You take my breath away with your imagery, the pearls of words that you string, on silver threads, pure faith, sheer beauty. I love the way you weave words. This was five mintues of magic. I'm there with you, watching ducks, waiting always for Him. Bless you, your beauty shines from within.
ReplyDeleteAnd He still stands arms open for all of us! Another beautiful 5 minutes, Hilary. I always look forward to your Friday posts.
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