The bright yellow tree outside the window is finally losing its leaves creating an exquisite carpet on the side walk more beautiful than a Persian rug. I feel royal and walk a little taller when stepping on such a tapestry of bright.
Rooftops are decorated with a dusting of light snow that fell during the night, and if the weather forecast is correct, more snow is coming to adorn more of the landscape. I’m declaring today the first official day of winter.
A thick layer of clouds saturated with moisture covers the expansion of the sky threatening this part of the earth with the possibility of them lingering for a very long time. My bright happy lamp will soon come out of storage, and at least for a couple of darker months, I will be grateful for Thomas Edison’s invention of the electric light.
The wind rushing through the tall evergreen moves the branches like waves in the ocean.
I am craving slow.
Days are passing by fast and the hours melt into a pot of busyness that I don’t like.
I’m craving slow. I need slow.
I look at the trees getting ready for their winter rest and I long to join them. Winter invites a slow that it’s often difficult to achieve in our busy world so accustomed to go go go.
God I need slow.
And God hears the prayer of my heart, the longing and need of my soul. He wants to give me slow, so He directs my thoughts to promises of calm. I have been reading John 10 where Jesus explains that He is the good Shepherd and the sheep, knowing His voice, follow Him. I am part of that flock, I know His voice, and follow Him. He promises to take care of me whenever something is trying to hurt me.
So God gives me slow.
Right there in Psalm 23. When it is cold, windy, and so busy outside, God makes me lay down in cool, soft, green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. The visual is simply amazing. He makes me lie down and rest in the most luxurious of places. I can imagine a valley of lush green grass with a gentle stream running through for whenever I need a drink. Tall beautiful mountains surrounding this valley, like one of those pictures of Switzerland that often make their way onto my internet feeds. The sun warming up the landscape. And God making me rest…
My breath slows down and I sleep without a care in the world, because God is with me.
And I’m grateful for slow.
Nothing calms me like the rest God gives. He refreshes my soul, something impossible to achieve with a warm bath, a good movie on Netflix, or a cup of hot tea. He can give me calm even when the pace is still fast. My circumstances may not change, but God restores my thoughts and calms the racing of my mind.
Psalm 23 ends with love and goodness in hot pursuit of me until I am safely home, God’s home, forever.
And that is rest… calm… slow.
