One of my sweet friends sent me a text yesterday morning begging me to come in out of the cold. She was attempting a “wintervention”. She was quite alarmed that the temperature had plummeted 20℉ since dawn two hours before. She knew that not only do I not have running water, but now my refrigerator doesn’t work. How can any sane person live like this? Ummmmm. Good question.
Am I certifiably crazy? Nope. I’ve BEEN crazy. This isn’t it. Am I wearing a hair shirt and performing some sort of ritualistic scarification that entails facing subzero temperatures and bad food? Not even close. Ever since I read The Boxcar Children, I’ve fantasized about living in a boxcar and eating wild berries, sleeping the sleep of happy exhaustion from the foraging of the day. Living in a fully stocked camper with a memory foam mattress, luxury bedding, an electric blanket turned up to “toasty” is living the high life comparatively. Oh, yeah….it’s a whale of a lot different than anything I’ve ever done for more than just a few days. It’s challenging, but it’s not necessarily dangerous. It’s exciting, fun, and full of adventures. It’s freedom to the nth degree.
Paring and peeling away every layer of civilization that I am willing to give up has simplified my life to the point that I can FEEL things. I feel the seasons, the power of the earth, the flow of the river, the flight of the birds. This is an exquisite gift I have been given. I was so upset after things fell apart at the farm because it didn’t work out according to MY plan. Once I finished stomping my little foot and pouting, I sat down. I shut up. And I listened. What I have heard is my own heart beating. Once I stilled my mind, I realized God was speaking loud and clear. “Hush now. Sit here with Me and let’s just be still awhile…you and Me, ok?”
Ok.
❤
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV