I awoke feeling very good about the
day before us and anticipating what fun was in store for me and my family. Collectively
we agreed on the night before that we’d head to “The City”! This was our designated
day of exploring and enjoying the sites and sounds of especially
Harlem,
Manhattan and possibly Br
ooklyn with our friends
which were no strangers to
New
York City. In my eagerness of good fun, learning and
enjoying a new site-for a moment I reflected that we were definitely in for a
treat, because Shelly being a native New Yorker knew the lay of the land! Several
days prior she and Ollie came for a visit in route to their home in
Florida and we thought it a great idea to have a New York City
Adventure during their visit with us. I enthusiastically agreed. Living in
Connecticut makes for relatively easy travel to
New York City, so instead of catching the Metro North Train we opted for
traveling by car. I know little about Brooklyn and have often found my self gazing
at incredible Pinterest photos of upscale restaurants, cozy sidewalk cafes or couples
happily embracing, people smiling and others strolling confidently in picture perfect
weather conditions. Many of of those Pinterest pics included the backdrop of the
Brooklyn
Bridge which really caused my curiosity to soar.I imagined I too would know these experiences and my
spirit said, “Yes!” Not imaging that the experience would quickly become a
reality! You’ve heard the saying, “Today is your day _________ (fill in the
blank with your name)!” Off we were
headed to
New York City. So our first destination was Brooklyn and our eating at a
great Greek Diner with ample servings. Yes, you guessed it, not many blocks away there it stood looming
larger than life the Brooklyn Bridge!
Initially the bumpy ride to “The
City” was filled with gridlock, road construction, lane restrictions with
plenty of starting and stopping causing my enthusiasm to wane! The ride felt
more like a roller coaster than a cruise. Maybe we should have started out on
our adventure earlier because before long I became overly hungry, extremely hot
and fatigued! I was in good company because Shelly was suffering with a
migraine. It was without a doubt, a sizzling afternoon. The heat index seemed awfully
cruel with the scorching sun beating down on us. It was a mean hotter than July
day in Brooklyn and our loved ones insisted that we approach the underpass
anyway! I could see the sunlit bridge in the distance, the closer we walked towards the
bridge the more menacing the heat felt and descend the stairwell anyhow! I said it, I know I expressed that this wasn’t the location I’d seen in
the magazine photos. I was being ignored. My folks seemed a little to eager to
get to that sun drenched walkway of the Brooklyn
Bridge. As I’ve heard it said, “I wasn’t feeling it!”
I had enjoyed the idea of crossing
the bridge but this was not quite how I envisioned this day! In unison my family and
friends audibly reminded me that I wanted to do this. I thought, and
expressed my displeasure, “Yeah but I am changing my mind!” My spirit was
annoyed-“they have got to be kidding!” Looking back, I now see that that moment
in time was ordained to happen on a blistering day!
What? Yep! God does know the plans he has for each of us!
And here I am today reflecting and
interpreting Sarah Young’s Facebook morning devotional post about skewed vision
causing us to miss out on God’s grander picture! Her words were: “examining …details
they obscure your view of the grandeur all around you…” And then I read Mark 5
and seemed to focus on verse 34 “ He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your
suffering.”
But
Lord what’s the correlation between an outing with friends and the woman with
the health issues? I can’t say I immediately understood-it took prior conversations and further scripture readings for me to understand or have an inkling of what the spiritual and life lessons were that I was supposed to grasp. But if transparency is in order, often I am adamant when
my mind is made up-the mental force field is now impenetrable, stern, blinded, unyielding by my thoughts because I believe I know! Know what you ask? What I’m not convinced I should
do! But what I realize today is that I’ve simply made up my mind about the
circumstances and the unforeseen outcome! Now I also understand that just possibly my anxiety, my
fears about many matters have shielded me from the entire "big picture"-the whole truth. And
you’ve figured out that with that thinking God and prayer are no where in the equation.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in
every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a
sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love
drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is
not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
“Humble
yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his
own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for
you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7
“Tell everyone who is discouraged, Be strong
and don’t be afraid!
God is coming to your rescue…” Isaiah 35:4
So let’s revisit my/our trek across the Brooklyn
Bridge. After leaving the stairwell
and reaching the bridge level, the sun was awaiting. Oh very unfriendly indeed. But it didn't stop the throngs of bikers and walkers. Initially,
feeling the sun blazing against my skin was shocking, yes it was terribly hot,
but I remembered to travel with my hat which acted as a visor protecting and
shielding me! It’s coming together now friends, I know you see it! The Lord our Shepherd shields,
guides-protects us! We have to take initial steps to begin the journey God has
in store for us. The first steps of our outing on the bridge with adequate
covering made it tolerable. Thank you Lord. Those with wide brims, umbrellas
and hoods must have known. And then my focus began to change-enjoyment took
over! (God cares for us and longs for us to experience his delight.) I spotted
a lone vendor, purchased a Selfie Stick for my iPhone, laughed, chatted,
marveled at the scenery with our friends. (There are divinely directed paths
awaiting us!) The further we walked, the more scenic, majestic and appreciative
I was of our surroundings. Lord I almost missed a breathtaking moment! It was
an amazing vista, the Manhattan Skyline, a New York City "must see", that I almost forsook! This was a living experience, one I hadn’t
seen or known! So Lord I thank you for the sound thinking of loved ones, who
pleasantly let their love overshadow my adamant stance! Oh yes about the woman
with the issue of “blood”, I believe she reached beyond her limitations, her fears and was
freed, released from bondage-she was delivered! She got out of her own way! That’s simply it friends,
God desires us to move beyond our “knowing”,our familiar experiences-to
openly/freely trust Him and marvel at what awaits us! It just may erupt into a festivity, an experience most memorable!
Shared with a Transparent Heart,
Linda Mose Meadows, Inspirational Author of the
devotionals:
The Blessedness of Believing A Devotional Journey of Life’s Lessons and God’s
Promises (Tate Publishing)
Destined to Receive, Reflections and Devotionals Celebrating
The Love of God (Amazon.com)
http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/
https://blessedauthorlm.wordpress.com/
