Sweep Me Away

I am currently on a much needed vacation. Sitting in a cozy little suite on the 4th floor of a wonderful hotel in Florida with a Diet Coke, new book and a nearly filled journal, I’m feeling very thankful for this little getaway. A much need break away from tasks that have a habit of becoming so daily…and a much needed time to reflect on several things that have been picking at my mind.
First, if you haven’t taken a roadtrip in awhile or are in need of some great sites to visit here in the States, check some of these places out in TN. Since I live in Oklahoma and we’ve taken the traditional Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi....route for two years already. We got adventurous and took a route to Florida through Arkansas, Tennessee and Georgia. I was ecstatic about this! One, I LOVE new places. Two, Tennessee just happens to be a place I never get tired of. Of course we stopped and took pictures of Graceland. I danced at a studio under the direction of a teacher who was OBSESSED with Elvis. Everytime I hear “A Little Less Conversation” I just can’t help but mimic my old dances. So we took pictures of the king and I squealed a bit when I saw my middle name plastered on the side of his plane. “Marie” is such a common middle name so I am almost positive about 95 million girls have had the same reaction. Anyway, Graceland is a must see simply for the tourist kick. Moving along to the Grand Ole Opry. Don’t go before August…you’ll find out that the place is currently shut down due to the flooding in May. Water lines quickly noticeable near the rooftop as you pass by it on the interstate. A little disappointed I didn’t get my picture! Moving on to my favorite part of the Natural State…Hillsboro Village. Mmmmm mmm….If you love an artsy area full of unheard of store names and cafes…this is your kind of place to be! It’s positioned right next to Vanderbilt University, which is GORGEOUS, and is full of little places I (literally) could eat right up! A free-standing Ben and Jerry’s (haaaaaallllejuah!) the Pancake Pantry, an old book store called Book Man, Book Woman, a cute little antique store called A Thousand Faces and the café du Provence with a beautiful French flag on display in the window. Beautiful. Between all that, the yoga studio, the colorful painted houses and Victorian style homes…I was sold! We are going back to spend a little more time there on the way home. I am dying to look around more! We didn’t get to see much of anything in the other states as we were dying to get here.
Now to the good stuff. ;)

If you get into the feeling that life is so “daily” and your tasks become menial, boring and irritating…take some time and figure out why. I’m thankful for this time away to sense what God has been screaming at me through the noise, the busyness of my own life. A real kind of faith…has to be OVERFLOWING. It has to be reaching. It has to be seizing hearts and hands. It has to be fighting when it’s tired and throwing itself in the middle of the darkness that is swallowing this world. It has to be Jesus…all of Him. I have been searching for this authenticity more, this realness that I knew was in my life…just desperately needing some water to wake it up. It’s amazing when you take away the role models of the world, the tasks you need to do, the people you need to reach and for a second look at Jesus. Look in His eyes and see the healing. See the love that cascades over sunsets and waterfalls. Feel the breeze of his gentleness and patience. And when you look back at this world you will see it differently. You’ll begin to show love not because you’re trying to earn your salvation, but because you honestly love the people on this planet. You’ll feel His heart beat. His pain for others, His urgency to get to them. His mind boggling passion for this world will wake you UP. You’ll find a purpose and a future.
Matthew 25: 37-40 is a passage that is shaking me. This is the example of an authentic faith lived out. Jesus said these words not so that it would be an obligation, but that it would be a lifestyle for us. A lifestyle oriented on His love.
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or in needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
I don’t want to question whether I have loved the least of these or the best of them. I want to have a faith that pours His love out in every word, in every action, in every thought. That’s a heart after Jesus. And I’m running for it. :)