“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restores my soul…”
Psalm 23:1-3
No matter where we live in the world, somehow when we find the beauty of God’s natural landscape, it soothes our soul. It prompts us to breathe deeply, sit serenely, and simply be. It doesn’t matter if you prefer the ocean, the mountains, or the woods. It is almost as if our soul acknowledges God’s handiwork, pausing for a well-deserved moment of reverence.
If you live in a rural town, you probably take your natural surroundings for granted. And being in the city can make you a little anxious without understanding why you feel completely under siege every time you visit. If you live in the city, taking a much deserved trip to the countryside, coastline, or mountains, allows your spirit to breathe in the natural elements needed to sustain you. It is your spirit’s reminder to release the cares of the world and simply take in the replenishing breath of God’s air.
One day, I watched as four children, all riding various apparatus with wheels, race on the sidewalk of a busy street. As they were racing up the hill headed my way, the lead racer, a boy on a bicycle about seven or eight years old, slowed down and got off his bicycle in the middle of the walkway. “—Wait! Wait! —Watch-out!” He gently shouted to the other children coming up behind him. “Wait! —Look! Be careful!” He continued saying while looking down at the ground. The others, wondering what could possibly prompt the leader of the race to descend from his sleek black two-wheeled chariot, slowed their wheels to a halt. “—What? —What is it?” They each repeated one after another. As they all huddled, he pointed to a single small yellow daisy on the ground. The petals on the daisy were no larger than the size of a quarter, and the stem no longer than two inches. “O-O-Oh,” they all said slowly, marveling at the fallen daisy on the sidewalk. Then, one by one, they slowly mounted their respective chariots, maneuvering around that daisy, leaving it as they found it; untouched by their hands, or the racing wheels of their respective chariots. I stood there in awe of the entire scene.
I thought about that incident the entire day; wondering why that young leader of the pack felt inclined to descend from his racing chariot so easily, giving up what appeared to be that carefree jubilant spirit most children hold on to while riding their bikes; simply to look at a small yellow daisy in the middle of the sidewalk.
Life can be so chaotic. Today there is so much hustle and bustle mesmerizing us, it inhibits the flow of God’s energy to and from our spirit, inducing us to easily lose focus of the things that really matter. That small child, even in his race to the finish line, was still able to stop and find the extraordinary beauty of a small yellow daisy.
So, the question today is; when was the last time you descended from your racing chariot to indulge in the simple beauty of a small yellow daisy? L.
Study Reference: Psalm 23:1-3
From: "He Restores My Soul" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: web discover
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restores my soul…”
Psalm 23:1-3
No matter where we live in the world, somehow when we find the beauty of God’s natural landscape, it soothes our soul. It prompts us to breathe deeply, sit serenely, and simply be. It doesn’t matter if you prefer the ocean, the mountains, or the woods. It is almost as if our soul acknowledges God’s handiwork, pausing for a well-deserved moment of reverence.
If you live in a rural town, you probably take your natural surroundings for granted. And being in the city can make you a little anxious without understanding why you feel completely under siege every time you visit. If you live in the city, taking a much deserved trip to the countryside, coastline, or mountains, allows your spirit to breathe in the natural elements needed to sustain you. It is your spirit’s reminder to release the cares of the world and simply take in the replenishing breath of God’s air.
One day, I watched as four children, all riding various apparatus with wheels, race on the sidewalk of a busy street. As they were racing up the hill headed my way, the lead racer, a boy on a bicycle about seven or eight years old, slowed down and got off his bicycle in the middle of the walkway. “—Wait! Wait! —Watch-out!” He gently shouted to the other children coming up behind him. “Wait! —Look! Be careful!” He continued saying while looking down at the ground. The others, wondering what could possibly prompt the leader of the race to descend from his sleek black two-wheeled chariot, slowed their wheels to a halt. “—What? —What is it?” They each repeated one after another. As they all huddled, he pointed to a single small yellow daisy on the ground. The petals on the daisy were no larger than the size of a quarter, and the stem no longer than two inches. “O-O-Oh,” they all said slowly, marveling at the fallen daisy on the sidewalk. Then, one by one, they slowly mounted their respective chariots, maneuvering around that daisy, leaving it as they found it; untouched by their hands, or the racing wheels of their respective chariots. I stood there in awe of the entire scene.
I thought about that incident the entire day; wondering why that young leader of the pack felt inclined to descend from his racing chariot so easily, giving up what appeared to be that carefree jubilant spirit most children hold on to while riding their bikes; simply to look at a small yellow daisy in the middle of the sidewalk.
Life can be so chaotic. Today there is so much hustle and bustle mesmerizing us, it inhibits the flow of God’s energy to and from our spirit, inducing us to easily lose focus of the things that really matter. That small child, even in his race to the finish line, was still able to stop and find the extraordinary beauty of a small yellow daisy.
So, the question today is; when was the last time you descended from your racing chariot to indulge in the simple beauty of a small yellow daisy? L.
Study Reference: Psalm 23:1-3
From: "He Restores My Soul" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: web discover
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