Firefly Summer
Scripture to Ponder:
Ephesians 1 : 16-19
Psalm 105:4
Jeremiah 29:11-14
I’m feeling a bit nostalgic lately but if you look back on memories there are a few that seem to stand out above the rest. They leave a fond feeling of longing and an echo of desire to return to a bygone moment. Something that was captured, much like a picture, in your mind's eye and has remained through the progression of time. For me it was the ‘Firefly Summer' and I hope it will be one of my children's core memories as they age.
We had packed our bags and loaded the car to make the 5 hour trip just to see fireflies. Now, as you can guess, my two children at the time we’re none too excited about the idea of going to set in the woods at night just to watch fireflies. I can't say I would have felt differently at their age, but they have kind hearts and put up a good front for their mom. Yet, all along they were questioning in their minds why we were going so far to see the same insects that we regularly see in our backyard on any given summer night.
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Without someone spending their time to study these magnificent creatures, we never would have known about or experienced the phenomenon of their mating season, which is only seen in certain locations during certain times of the year. Someone out there had to seek out these insects and follow them around to study their patterns and learn all of the fascinating details of their species. Now, before you term me the crazy bug lady hang in… I’m getting to the best part and I promise this will eventually tie in to our spiritual lives.
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We entered the Smoky Mountain National Forest before sunset to hike in and find a place to set up our chairs and get comfortable for the night. As we sat waiting for the sun to go down, I was even beginning to question what I couldn't see. We saw a few fireflies here and there but not what you would expect. As darkness grew you began to see a few lighting up on occasion and with more darkness came more lights from the fireflies. By the time the moon was on full display, the forest floor was like a blanket of lights; some yellow, some blue, and some that left a trail of light behind them as they flew. The fireflies were synchronous in their lighting, so they all lit up at the exact same time over and over. It was incredibly beautiful and left me in awe of our creator. As far as you could see there were thousands of tiny lights floating atop the forest floor like a melody only the creator could hear. Even his creation praises him! It was simply beautiful to see something so spectacular occuring in nature as it was created to.
That spectacular experience would never have been known to me if someone hadn't sought to know more. The seeking was essential. It was essential to know more and to experience more and truly you could never fully grasp its beauty except to experience it for yourself. The same is true with the Savior, Sis. Seeking is essential. Without that crucial step we can never fully know the depths of his heart. We have to go beyond knowing who he is to experiencing the Savior. Sweet friend, I can explain with a plethora of beautiful words to create a picture in your mind of what it was like to see the forest come alive as if it were a real life fairy tale, but it can never be fully grasped until you experience it yourself. The same is true with knowing Christ. I can share what it is like but until you experience him yourself you can never fully and truly know. You can hear of him your entire life but if you have never fully surrendered and whole heartedly sought him you can't know the depths of his heart and his love for you. Just as Paul wrote in Ephesians, so too is my prayer for you: “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:16-19)
There is beauty abounding in the presence of Christ, but you have to seek. In the seeking he promises to be found and, Sis, He leaves me in awe each and every time. No matter where you are in your life with Christ there is always a deeper relationship to be had. He is waiting for us to seek so that he can faithfully reveal more of his heart. Keep seeking Him, Sis, He is the only thing that will truly sustain us!
Questions to Ponder:
1) Have I ever truly “experienced" Christ? (Have I went beyond a head knowledge of who he is?)
2) Am I daily seeking?
3) Who can I pray the Ephesian's prayer for today?
