“Hush away the hurry.
Put to rest the worry.
Come to quell and quiet me.
In this moment given…
Awake my soul to live this moment. Awake my soul,
give thanks and hold it”
~ Shaun Groves, “Awaken My Soul”
First snow. Last leaves. There are moments God places in our hands that are brief. Will you take in that moment or let it pass?
I awoke to quiet.
I had slumbered late this morning, in a hotel room in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
I was far from home, attending the Relevant Conference and my west coast body still lagged three hours behind.
It was the day before I was to head home and I was hoping to gather myself some space — to capture on paper the stories swirled out of coffee sips, hellos, and hallway conversations.
As I turned the corner to head towards the dining area, a corridor of descending white speckles peered through the windows.
It was snowing.
In My Hand
I forgot how white snow is — how light it floats and yet, rhythmically making it’s way towards the ground. Each spec seemed to moved in concert with each other, keeping time to the click of nature’s metronome.
The last time I saw snow was over six years ago. Before I became a mom. Before the perimeter of where I drove or walked kept me close to home for baby’s naps.
Hotel guests walked by with beanies pulled down over ears, mittens too. There I was, in California-weathered blouse, feeling quite out of place.
It was a moment God placed in my hand.
Run out. Feel the snow.
I looked around. People would think I am weird. My hair and clothes would get wet. I wasn’t somewhere out in nature after all. This was a hotel. In Harrisburg.
I stood there mind static, heart mixed.
Just A Moment
I walked past the sliding doors, out from under the overhang and into the lightly whisping wind.
I looked up to snowflakes crash landing on my nose and eyelids.
I tasted a snowflake.
I crouched low to see a flower, petals blanketed lightly.
My nose smelled wet air.
Thank you, God.
Beauty.
I ran back in, teeth chattering, and composure collected (nothing to see here, folks!).
It was just a moment.
That’s all it took to awaken my soul. God uses beauty to bring rest to my soul.
Before It Passes
We don’t always have a whole morning or a long afternoon.
Many times, what we have are moments God folds into our hands.
If we follow that tug — as children easily do — we give ourselves permission to enjoy the gift of time once again.
A song.
A poem.
A sunlit spot on the sofa.
A cup of cocoa.
A hug.
A hello. Even a short conversation.
A walk in light rain to the mailbox.
A picture of the last leaves on the tree.
The first snow of the year.
Be attentive to those first or the last moments that rest gently in your hand.
Give your soul the breath of God’s presence.
Enjoy a moment before it passes.
“Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure” ~ Psalm 16:9
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What are the moments this week that have awakened your soul?
Pull up a chair. I love company and enjoy hearing your thoughts. Click to share a comment.
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To catch up and read the earlier posts in this series —
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Christian singer/songwriter Shaun Groves gave a soul-refreshing concert at the Relevant Conference,
sharing faith-inspiring songs like "Awaken My Soul", giving voice to God's heart for children
around the world on behalf of Compassion International.
15 Comments
Having difficult health issues at this time; my soul was so refreshed by my grandchildren : Nathan (11), Matthew (8) and Amanda Grace (6) who came to visit and put on skits they made up telling Bible stories of Samuel & David. God is good!!
God gave me some beautiful moments this morning and the best part is I was able to stop, take it all in and be fully present. A small cup of coffee, my daughter napping with her dad and long hot shower for me…I was able to enjoy every minute and just thanked God for these beautiful moments!
Dear Bonnie,
This might be the nicest post inspired by a trip to Harrisburg 🙂 It was lovely, and I want to thank you. I grew up not far from there but live near Orlando now. For the few minutes I was reading, I was there in that moment with you. And then I was in my driveway, seeing the morning stars, etc.
Best,
I DON’T want this series to be over. Every morning I look forward to coffee with my favorite barista. Are you considering a daily blog (please, please). I’m sure that is asking a whole lot of you. Maybe several times a week…..or even just weekends.
Thank you for sharing so much of yourself with all of us. Thank you God for speaking to me through Faith Barista.
Went hiking yesterday morning and was so blessed to see in the midst of shrubs and bushes a burst of colorful small lilac colored flowers. And this morning sitting in my backyard enjoying the clear blue skies, a cup of coffe, worship music and colorful flowers around me. I’m looking forward to growing in my thanks and praises and in taking moments to be still and see around me that He is God!
I’ve been sick for the past week. I honestly think God allows sickness in my life some times as a reminder to SLOW down. It is only a matter of time until our bodies can no longer play catch-up with our hurried minds. So today, I stay in bed and allow myself to REST.
I love those moments that inspire a break- time for breathing. 🙂
Bonnie,
So very beautifully written.
I was drawn right into the moment.
I live in south Florida and was soul was awaken in the quiet time spent putting the finishing touches on my first devotional/bible study, while working on my next book/bible study. Our weather has been inclement: flash flood warnings, torrential rain, an even tornado warnings too. However, I found the piece and quite my soul so desperately needed in the moment.
Bonnie, what a special moment. And I’m so glad you choose to seize it and to be thankful to God.
My special moments this week included so many hugs from the children at school and sitting in our bed at night reliving the whole day for my listening hubby. Life wasn’t always like this and for that I’m grateful.
I hope you will share some of what you learned at Relevant. I hope to attend one of these years.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Watching my 1 year old nephews face light into an enormous smile when he realised we had brought our dog to visit also. They are such simple little angels at that age 🙂
The best moment was this morning’s walk. It drizzled on the way back. We stopped under a tree and watched how beautiful the steady drizzle was against the sunlit sky. Hawaii’s famous for sunlit rainy days. I love when David and I both share a moment like that. Shadow standing close to us for shelter…lol. Bonds forever.
I love those moments when God prompts me to stop and take in the beauty around me. What a lovely experience. Where I live (Michigan) it can be easy to forget those delightful, quiet moments as the first snow falls. How amazing God is. He shows His unique creativity in the world which surrounds us. Thanks for the reminder to stop and catch those icy snow flakes on my tongue this year, and revel in the peace of God’s presence.
Awesome reminder to take a moment and to soak in the beauty. It reminds me to be present, in whatever I am doing. I was just thinking of that movie “Elizabethtown” and how Kirsten Dunst’s character does this little thing where she takes a pretend snapshot with her invisible camera, of moments she wants to capture and cherish. Like a mental photograph.
I usually see these moments in the people around me,when someone’s being real.
Abeautiful moment–thank you.
One came for me last night. at our very small church in navajoland, as a small group of us studied our supposedly basic, foundational lesson on the 4th chapter of Genesis. We were led to realize how much of our striving to “serve Him”, our stress as we try so hard to please Him, that our Almighty Father is in fact the one Who comes to us; even pursues us, in order to create for us a relationship with Him. As this truth seemed to hit all of us simultaneously, I watched faces brighten and relax. We all understood that we can truly rest in His love and grace. We all, in that moment, felt again the wonder of the first snow, the momentary visit from the hummingbird, the sight of the bright blossom in a hidden place, the waiting hush of pre-dawn, the changing breath-stopping beauty of a New Mexico sunset.
Thank You, Father God, for such heart-lightening, joyous moments.
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