We had just begun the short hike up to North Fork Falls when we discovered a tiny pink flower hanging on the steep sloops. The delicate twinflower plants were a contrast to the rough, rocky terrain. Softly scenting the fresh mountain air around us with its sweetness. The pure fragrance invited us to breathe it in deeply.
Hiking up the trail the air got cooler and damper by degrees as we went. A very refreshing change on a warm day.
Reaching the rushing falls the children scatter about off the main trail – some rerouting the water in the stream, others climbing like mountain goats on the rocks to the top of the falls. All discovering more of what they are interested in. Active but peaceful. For a mother’s heart, it is a balm to see our children delighting in their surroundings, something to savor.
After spending some time there we went back down the trail to Big Creek where the water from the falls meets with the larger body of water. Again the children scatter in their exploration of the world around them hopping from one rock to another as they move along the bank of the river.
I found myself a chair and sat on a large flat rock near the edge of the water. Watching the water rush over the rocks the sunshine moves and dances through the pine trees flickering on the surface of the water. Many sounds of the moving water remind me of the description of the voice of God. “…his voice was like a noise of many waters” Ezekiel 43:2. Sitting there I enjoyed taking a break from my work and spent some time writing in my journal.
The children soon discovered a deeper hole down the river, just out of my sight. They came back all excited and grabbed their fishing poles. Surely a deep hole means fish!
Shortly, Walden came flying back upstream all excited with a rainbow trout in his hands. In his first cast, he had caught a Rainbow! He was soo excited to catch the very fish he had been dreaming of catching. In his exuberance, he could hardly talk fast enough, and as he talked the trout kept flopping out of his hands and he would chase it around to pick it back up again, talking all the while. Walden plopped his fish into a bucket of water and sprinted off through the trees to the fishing hole telling me he needed to catch some more fish!
I was laughing with delight to see his pleasure. Walden was so thrilled! He has been dreaming of fishing the streams for a rainbow trout for quite a while now. Someone gave him a box of fly tying supplies. He has been pouring over the magazines with cane poles, fishing flies, and how-to articles. Often he brings me the books and sits beside me sharing what he is discovering. While he is absorbed in it, I am slowly learning a few things.
Watching Waldens’ excitement and the joy he had in sharing it with me made me ponder how the Lord longs for our relationship with Him to be the same.
God waits for us to sit down with Him to read His Word and learn new things about Him. To talk about what is in the Word and how we can implement the truths there into our lives. The Lord also is delighted, like I was, to have my son rush back to tell me about his great catch of the rainbow trout.
Our lives in Christ are a sweet savor to God. “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved…” II Corinthians 2:15
Just as we love to share life with our family, God loves to communicate with us in daily life. If Walden hadn’t been sitting beside me in the quietness of the day, sharing his dreams of fly tying and fishing, I would not have understood the depth of his joy in catching that rainbow trout. Looking at all the details of fly fishing with Walden can make me sort of glaze over. It isn’t really my love. Yet, because my son is delighted in it, I choose to pay attention.
It is the same in the Lord. If I do not sit at the feet of Jesus, soaking in His Word, learning daily of Him, I do not see the things around me with the clarity He wants to show me. When I read the Bible, it is not always a thrill. Sometimes, if I dare to admit it, a bit boring. Yet that Truth builds in my heart to show me Him more fully. What knowledge I have of the Word of God the Holy Spirit used to remind me that God’s voice was like many waters as I sat by the stream. The sweet scent of the flowers along the path reminds me of how God views us as we walk in Christ. If we are not very familiar with the Word of God, the Holy Spirit can not bring it to our minds. My experience with Walden was similar – sharing in the boring, learning part of Walden’s life, I got to see into the great joy as well.
When we have an interest in something like a hobby or project we want to do we take the time to learn more about it. We ask of others who have more experience to glean from their knowledge. YouTube or Pinterest can be a source of learning more, we’re willing to spend our money on books and supplies to move forward in what we are interested in. The excitement in what we are learning drives us. Learning more, we reach for more and invest a lot of our time and resources.
Walden has been learning more about fishing and pursuing more knowledge. What he is learning about lures, fishing poles, and where certain types of fish thrive are helping him to be successful in fishing.
Pursuing God will help us to stand on His Truth, to do spiritual battle, to pray more specifically, and live more in His holiness. To be successful spiritually.
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3.
We never arrive. There is always so much more to learn about our living Lord. He longs to see us delight in Him, and have that relationship that goes both ways – not a God who is a genie in a bottle that answers our prayers when we want something.
What are you choosing to do to pursue God and know Him?
~Sheila
PS. We had fish for supper last night. The package of fish I pulled from the freezer and pan-fried, as usual. Walden’s Rainbow Trout I wrapped in foil and baked in the oven with butter, garlic, and lemon juice. Walden was totally sure it was the best fish on the table!
Thank you – always enjoy your posts !! Looks beautiful there !!