A Time Of Renewal

Autumn is my favourite season.  Beautiful colour changes, cozy sweaters, walks through fallen leaves, the lack of mosquitoes-these are all attributes I appreciate this time of year.  And while the earth itself begins to hibernate for a time, I find it to be a season of great renewal for my soul.  Every summer I say that I will stay connected with Jesus, I will pick up my Bible daily, I will pray often.  I always predict that I will have so much free time to do all these things and more.  Yet, every summer, I fail to do so.  This year was no different.  While I have not left Jesus' side, nor has He left mine, it seems like ages since we had a real conversation.  I equate it to an evening at the movies.  It's really nice to sit close to your date and feel comforted that you are not alone in the theatre, but it's not a very good relationship building activity.

Typically, as August nears it's end, I'm filled with anticipation for the renewal of that close-knit relationship with Christ.  This year has been different though, as the desire came a lot earlier than usual.  For the past few weeks the weather has been hot and sunny.  I feel I should be on the beach enjoying what little warmth we have left.  My mindset, however, is of cozy sweaters, a cup of hot chocolate and some God-centered literature.

The other night I was chatting with Jesus and telling Him how excited I was to feel connected with Him again.  Great anticipation overwhelmed me, thinking of how good it is when my heart is so closely linked with Christ's.  It was at that moment I received a picture.  I was brought back to a memory of my first boyfriend.  It was movie night at our school and we were sitting side by side in the gym.  I couldn't tell you what movies we watched that day, but I clearly remember the anticipation I felt the entire time, just waiting for him to hold my hand.  Finally, as we reached the last ten minutes of the second movie, he took hold, and I was overjoyed.  I smiled at the memory and knew right away what God was trying to say to me.  The anticipation of a good thing is sweet, but the action is even sweeter.  I knew He was suggesting that I should just grab His hand now instead of waiting.  After all, wouldn't it be better to enjoy the "hand holding" right away?  Why wait?

So, on that note, here I go...

It may be a little premature to bundle up in my wool sweaters, but I'm going for a walk.  I'm leaving the movie theatre, grabbing hold of Jesus' hand and we're going to spend time sharing our hearts with each other.  I don't have an inkling of what our time together will look like yet, I will let Him be the guide, but I know it will be so sweet and worth the time I give Him.  I want to encourage you to do the same.  Don't just wait for that moment when it all seems to fall into place, when the time finally seems just right.  Wouldn't it be better to be there now?