*Living*

I find myself taking the little moments for granted. I want life to pass quickly by, too often. Life is about living in the everyday. It's about living in the moment. It's about using each and every moment to glorify God. No matter if it's just thanking him and praising him for the beauty he has made. It's about cherishing each breath that God has given us. It's living each moment for Him, as if you had no other moment to live.

The first night in the Ozarks I sat up in the tent. Paul was sleeping as I looked out at the black woods in front of me. The beautiful stars shone above me and something walked through the leaves. It was just me and God. I have never felt closer to God than in that moment. He and I had a long talk about many things. About committment and love and life in general. About shortcomings, grief and pain. About everything. If you have never talked to God as if He were with you in that moment, sharing your feelings, being your friend-you haven't truly prayed. It had been a long time since I'd really had this type of conversation with God and felt so close to Him. So close that I could almost almost almost physically feel His arms around me.

Looking at such beauty stirred up a longing within my soul that had been buried for so long. A contentment that I have been missing for a long time. Suddenly, everything was okay. Everything was going to be okay. God was in complete conrol and He was my source of contentment, life, everything. He was the center of everything. At that moment I had to wonder if God didn't make the Ozarks just for me. To draw me closer to Him. To help me realize the most important things aren't really that important. To show me just how powerful He truly is. And to show me the extent He would go for me.

I came back from vacation a changed being. Those Ozarks ushered me into the presence of God unlike anything else in a long time. Those hills will always have a special place in my heart. I have always loved them and I always will.

Different people are touched by different things. The Ozarks are my "thing". Maybe it's the Ozarkian blood running through my veins, or perhaps it is simply my love of the outdoors. I don't know what it is exactly.

A question or two:

What is your "thing"? What is the one thing that will usher you into God's presence like nothing else?

And a challenge:

Find that "thing". Find it and make some time to pursue it. Allow yourself to be ushered into God's presence and dwell with Him there. If even for only a couple of minutes. Allow Him to change you and complete you and make you content. Allow Him to embrace you and comfort you and be with you. Even if you feel so close to Him right now, I don't doubt that those few moments or minutes or hours will refresh you and draw you even closer.

When we are close to God and dwelling with Him-that is truly living.