When is the last time you forgot about time? When is the last time that you hadn't the slightest idea what the clock said? I am one of these people that almost always knows what time it is, sometimes even down to the minute. You could come up to me in the middle of the day or the middle of the night and I would somehow know the time without looking. It is one of those quirky weird things about me.
This morning I completely lost track of time. I was awake very early even though I did not have to go into work. I made a conscious decision before my feet even hit the floor that I was going to have a good day; this day the Lord made for me.
Not 30 minutes after getting up, someone put a bit of nastiness in a slingshot and sent it my way. This set me on a course of negative thinking. I realized I had a headache and my neck felt sore. I felt old. I could see that it was clearly time for another root touch-up, too.
Setting out to have a good day does not mean that everything that happens in that day will be good. In fact, make a decision to have a good day and for sure you will get tangled in your sheets as you step out of bed and hit your head on the nightstand. That's the way it goes, right?
None of those things attempting to rain on me were actually that big of a deal. I reminded myself how I was in this day with God and I really did feel that He had good things in store. This brings me to losing track of time.
I slipped out of the house with a hot cup of coffee and made my way over to the grasslands and prairie in Orland. Nature does something for me. It's like a supernatural God-given anesthetizer. I decided to take the grass path and actually venture into the middle of the prairie where nobody else was. I was lost, but in a good way. I saw new colors, flowers, plants, and birds I had not seen before. I was 100% happily distracted. There was so much to see on either side of me that I forgot about the possibility of stepping on a snake. I bring this up because it happened to me a couple months ago. I quite literally almost stepped on top of a snake. (Granted, it was a tiny little gardener snake which I didn't have to admit to you).
As I walked, I marveled at the contrast of colors between the flowers, tall green grass, caramel colored prairie, and changing sky backdrop. At one point my eyes welled with tears as I imagined myself in heaven. I was sitting on a chair and I was looking at all these rare and beautiful birds and flowers never seen. Colors never discovered. And I was overwhelmed with what God had put before me like handing a giant lollipop to a little girl. I was overcome. God was full of joy over my joy. Aaaaah...heaven. I look forward to heaven!
As I bent down and moved and crouched in awkward positions to get photographs, every problem, every ache, every concern, melted away. Completely.
The oppressive heat as of late was gone. The sky was overcast and there was a breeze. The birds were loud and singing. It was marvelous. I have to laugh out loud, though. It all sounds sort of fairy tale and fake, doesn't it? I can assure you I did not break out into song about the hills being alive! However, as I am authentic and honest about my pain, I am also sincere about my joy. I. Felt. Joy.
And, I lost total track of time. It almost felt weird. At one point I realized I hadn't the slightest idea what time it was. Was it still early morning or was it getting closer to lunch? What happened?
What happened was pure no-agenda-time-with-God. Worship. Creativity. Imagination. Health. Connection. Better than a drug. Food for the brain. Healing. Destressing at it's best.
In a world that runs on time we can feel there is too much of it or not enough. We can be enslaved by it. Church, Bible study, worship music, and fellowship is imperative for any follower of Jesus. And, so is experiential, no time constraint, abandon with God!
The Bible has many examples of men and women who went off to spend long lengths of time with God. Even Jesus did.
When is the last time you lost yourself enough to find yourself in Christ? Do you invite him into your life? Do you ask him to go for a walk with you? How about fish, paint, cook, write, serve, drive, clean, shop, or take a lunch break?
Do you have FUN with Him?
Do you lose track of time?
This is an exciting invitation for you. A wonderful opportunity. It's free with only good side effects.
I believe we need to be intentional in regard to forgetting about time, rules, 'shoulds' and 'should-nots' to just be with God. Moving in Him as He moves in us and nothing else matters. I believe this is part of the rest that Jesus gives us when we come to Him feeling burdened and weary.
Whether it is today, tomorrow, or next week, practice forgetting about time as you enter into the Three In One and breathe what is fresh, alive, and healing.
You are dearly loved.
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