A Few Thoughts on Renewal

I recall a few years ago sitting in one of my favorite local restaurants (Gondolier... for you locals) & pouring out my emotions to a dear friend. This had become a weekly occurrence where I'd find myself spending the majority of our conversation talking about my "weariness, overcommitment, & the perceived need to drop out." I was in the middle of a sentence when a friend of his walked in the restaurant & stopped by the table. My friend said to her, "You look great! I can't believe how refreshed you look." That statement hit me like a ton of bricks. It immediately called to mind how much of my time was spent in dread, weariness, disappointment... burdened. I needed renewal in a bad way.

Here's some quotes & thoughts I've been having... many of these thoughts are birthed from my reading Gordon McDonald's "Renewing Your Spiritual Passion."

• Heart check time when "life seems to momentarily turn into a mindless or spiritless journey crammed with events (not experiences) & contacts (not relationships)" (6).

• "There are no shortcuts, no gimmicks, no easy ways to cultivate intimacy with God & attain the resulting passion that should carry on through life's journey" (9).
  

• "Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry because I never undertake more work than I can go through with calmness of Spirit." -John Wesley

This is my favorite excerpt from the book (taken from Lettie Cowman's "Springs in the Valley" p.196-7):

In the deep jungles of Africa, a traveler was making a long trek. Coolies had been engaged from a tribe to carry the loads. The first day they marched rapidly & went far. The traveler had high hopes of a speedy journey. But the second morning these jungle tribesmen refused to move. For some strange reason they just sat & rested. On inquiry as to the reason for this strange behavior, the traveler was informed that they had gone too fast the first day, & that they were now waiting for their souls to catch up with their bodies.

I am often astounded at the pace at which our lives move. My dear friends, please spend time waiting... let your souls catch up with your bodies.