BROOKLYN BRIDGE TESTIMONY!

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 Brooklyn 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/