Seasons of Water

 

If I had my perfect tiny house in the woods somewhere, it would be on a stream instead of a lake. There are many different reasons for this. First, I love the sound of running water. Second, running water is clearer than water that stands still, where plants like algae can grow. As I was thinking about this in prayer, God brought up an old song called “Keep Your Lure in The Water” by Randy Travis. I wondered am I stepping out in faith and going where I’m called to go. Now retired, I rarely leave my home. Am I being complacent? That’s when I realized my life has been like seasons of water. There were two parts to my job, I created exhibit environments for preschool children and parents to grow, and designed hands-on art programs that helped people love literature and develop character. Now the true one focus of my job was to highlight exhibits and create interest in them. As a person of prayer, God showed me the importance of increasing literacy in the region and using the power of words to build character. It was never overt. God directed me and I was obedient. I prayed without ceasing for most of my 33-year career. I watched parents play with their children and talk about things like honesty, kindness, caring for others, taking turns, being humble, respect, and patience. During art programs parents would ask their children about their art, what it meant to them, how it helped them see the exhibits, and what about the exhibits and their interaction that impacted them. It was exhausting, challenging and inspiring all at the same time. At the height of my career, I was working 60-70 hours a week, often seven days a week, creating 120 programs a year and designing new preschool exhibits every two months. My life was like white-water rafting. Swift, steady, and often unpredictable, but greatly satisfying. My dreams were filled with visions for exhibits, books that related to our traveling exhibits, and creative art ideas that brought exhibits and books alive. God inspired all of it. Life was fast and fruitful.

Since retiring, I have been in a season of stillness, recuperating from years of being on the edge of empty. Each day I poured everything I had out, and at night I would rest in His presence and be refilled. Recently, I have seen years of extended loss, and redirection. Long moments of stillness and peace. I am no longer thirsty having been saturated in the waters of His love day and night, and night and day. It’s been just me and God hanging out with the fish. As I think about how much I love fishing, how God called me to be a fisher of men, I wonder if that is still the case. The memory of taking my son fishing when he started college is teaching me some new lessons. While I grew up fishing, my children didn’t fish with me. When we camped, I would send them out fishing with their dad while I cleaned up camp and prepared meals. My son was surprised to learn how much I loved fishing. We went charter fishing in Florida before the holiday season started. The rest of the boat was filled with dads and their sons. We put our lures in the water and we were still and waited. It’s a special skill to wait on the Lord, eagerly listening, feeling for a pulse on the line, and awaiting with anticipation. We started pulling in the fish. The others gathered around us thinking we had found a school of fish, yet we continued to be the only ones catching. We caught over 120 pounds of fish that day. Listening, knowing the touch of the Lord, and believing in His goodness is always rewarded in prosperity and peace.

As I think about this season of being in still waters, I feel like it’s a new season of being reborn. This stillness is new, I went from never being alone, to almost always being alone. Yet God is still the constant companion. The enemy whispers I have fallen away, just lies. God reminds me of the little fish I caught and how I would release them back into the water for them to continue to grow. That’s the season I am in now. It may not seem fruitful from a worldly perspective, but God has released me back into still waters to take me deeper into His presence and His glory. Fish get put back when they are not ready for their next assignment. Perhaps I’m being fattened up by the Global Celebration School of Supernatural Ministry so that I’m ready for my next assignment. I am thankful for the meals of truth, like good fats that stick to my bones, protein that is developing new muscles, and the wine of joy that is starting to bubble up in my blood.