Do you struggle to stay in the moment? I know I do. In the past year, it has been a constant battle of looking back and looking forward but never really looking down to see where my feet were planted in the moment. I am always ready for the next thing, ready to see where God has me headed and better yet, when he will get me there.
As I went through Easter weekend and was reminded of the resurrection, I wasn’t only reminded of a new life that is risen but I was reminded of the body in the tomb. I have constantly thought about what happened during that time of waiting. I have not been able to get it out of my mind since this beautiful Easter. I realized, while Jesus’ bones were in the tomb, the women (Mary Magdalene, Mary, and Salome) were preparing. They weren’t looking backwards and they didn’t know what was to come in the future. Instead, they were presently preparing spices to take care of the task at hand, anointing the body. Then it says in Luke 23:56 that they “rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment”. While I am sure they were human and worried about all that had taken place, they were still consumed with following their calling for that present time. A time such as this. They prepared and they rested. WOW.
In the midst of turmoil and tragedy- I have been scattered, spastic, and scared. I have done everything but prepare and rest like these influential women. The Lord has been working on my heart for a while but the time of waiting and being content in the desert has been particularly on my mind since around November. Holding it together and being content is hard as a human being, but even harder as a mom. It is a daily battle of asking myself if I am doing a good job for the here and now.
In a short reflection on myself, I am in deep prayer that I can prepare for the present. How crazy that may sound but how true it is. May I always be preparing, working, striving… but may I do it for the here and now. May I be able to plant my feet where I am and dig deep roots in the right things instead of worrying where my feet are running next. And finally, may I be able to rest in the faith that God is in control of what happens in my next chapter. I don’t want to miss one moment and, one day, wish I could go back- so I will prepare for the present and reverently take in each moment in the here and now.
Sincerely, Sydney. 