Some of us are the busy kind, the don’t-stop-moving-or-I’ll-think kind.
What are we running from in the quiet moments our minds drift off?
There is a landscape we paint with every image and sound we take in, and when we close our eyes or when the brain runs idle, we drift there, and scenes play.
***
the terrified face your husband made when the baby came out
the roar and the sea under that Highland bridge, the crinkly bag of fish and chips in your hand
the pop-up after pop-up of porn when you unknowingly clicked on the photo of an ultrasound
the old horse put down in the front yard flowers, her mane rippling blond in cold air
***
What is it for you? The faces, the vain imaginations, what you should have said, the last chance?
In the mind’s eye, where does your vision go? And what of faith, believing in the unseen?
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
So when the light of glory comes, even when it shimmers in the feel of baby skin, in the gift of a few warm days amid the coldest winter, let the mind take in the scene. Let gratitude mark the colors and shapes.
Practice seeing God Invisible.
Post By Amber Haines
So beautiful…
Thank you, Miranda. I can go to some dark places pretty quickly, but God is teaching me to capture light.
ummm. usually my scenes involve conversations that didn’t go well. or to the future – what is left to DO. but i have a scene of the throne of god – from revleation 4 – that i choose to play. imagining the high king of heaven. yeah.
That’s cool, Kendal, because when I’m in the most pain during natural childbirth, that is the exact image I have in my mind. I feel like with every deep breath, I come closer to and closer to seeing the face of God. I go to His throne room.
My scenes are of things I NEED to do, regrets of things I didn’t do. This is beautiful. I need to tape over my scenes and take in the beauty surrounding me now. Thanks.
I’m constantly in that process!
I am practicing the pause, the giving the mind to Him instead of my internal video, which can range from what I still need to do to the stuff I am shamed I ever did, depending on the moment in time.
Seeing God in the invisible. Yes, it does take practice. Especially when you are one of the busy ones you refer to in the first line. I am a girl who can keep busy for sure.
Beutiful words to ponder today. Pray that I take them with me.
I keep going back to how God transforms our minds and how this has to be how its’ done.
I’ve certainly never been able to will myself into right thinking. I can fake my actions (working nonstop), but my mind acts according to belief.
I’ve started asking every day that God would help my unbelief!
Danelle, you are always so encouraging.
God was telling me to trust him and not work at the job I’ve been at for about 5 years. As of yesterday they know that I am probably done–I think I have two weeks to change my mind and just keep minimal hours….I am one of those people who need to stay busy to keep too many thoughts from entering my mind–last summer I was working 50ish hours a week including a job I do as a volunteer–and yet some weeks I still felt like I wanted to do even more because there was just too much going on inside my mind.
Oh, VA, I get you.
In fact, I know this is how my entire family works. I’ve grown up seeing the hard work as admirable, and it is, but as an adult, I’ve learned that much of it can come from a place of unrest.
This is stunning–and just grabs my heart. Thank you so much.
Amber, to see life through your eyes {and words} is a kaleidoscope of poetry.
If that ain’t the beautiful truth, Holley! Perfect Monday words, Amber.
Well, thank you both! I’m glad you see it that way, but well, sometimes it’s more like a kaleidoscope of scary!
Mostly, the re-runs in my mind are of things I regret doing or saying.
After that–a close second–are the things I try to figure out, but cannot. For example, why does so-and-so not invite me out anymore? Or, have I done or said something to what’s-her-name to make her mad? {My insecurities can drive me crazy, if I let myself think like that for too long.}
Only occassionally do I see things in my mind’s eye of what could be: me ministering or writing a book, those 2 long-lost dreams I don’t think will ever happen now.
Me too – on every bit of this.
My imagination goes much too quickly to the ugly what ifs and if I dwell on them too long, it’s as if they actually happened. I love the hymn you posted, I think I’ll start humming it when I feel my mind starting to take a wrong turn!
I have been following your blog for a while and as always your words hit home