Just Around the Riverbend

I often think in song. Phrases and choruses ring through my head at random moments of the day. Whether it's riding on the escalator at the mall to "Movin' On Up" from The Jeffersons or in the midst of a serious moment, thinking of "I Love to Laugh" from Mary Poppins, tunes ring through me and often pop out for the random passerby to enjoy. :) 

As for today, a song from the Disney movie Pocahontas is the winner. It goes something like this:

What I love most about rivers is:
You can't step in the same river twice
The water's always changing, always flowing
But people, I guess, can't live like that
We all must pay a price
To be safe, we lose our chance of ever knowing
What's around the riverbend
Waiting just around the riverbend

You see, I am fascinated by what is around the corner. I love that random road where you can't see over the hill and you never have the opportunity to drive down so you are filled with wonder.

I'm a curious person by nature, but if I only wonder and never explore...where does that leave me? Stuck? Stifled? Never satisfied? 

So every once in awhile, I like to satisfy those wonderings and follow a rabbit trail...whether it is a physical path to follow, a concept to research, finding out the correct lyrics to some song that I know I've sung wrong for years. Whatever it may be, I think the wonderings keep life interesting and exciting and keep me moving forward, ever growing. 

"And then I realized adventure was the best way to learn." 

Author unknown

Embracing My True Colors

Just the other day, a friend came by to help me fix a problem...my bedroom. It had become a gathering place for all the wrong sorts of things and was desperately in need of a face lift. Move a dresser here and place a used bookshelf here and, voila, a sanctuary emerged. Piles of books now have a home. Order is restored. Precious items once buried are now proudly on display. And peace has entered the place.

Upon one wall now hangs a large picture of a peacock with its plumage in full display. I was conflicted when I first saw it. I was drawn to the image; however, at the same time all I could think of was negative connotations involving pride. "Proud as a peacock," in my thoughts transitioned into scripture such as "Pride goes before destruction," and "When pride comes, then comes disgrace." (Prov 16:18 and 11:2 respectively). Did I want a picture that inspired these thoughts to adorn the wall of my sanctuary?

Then I heard that Voice within that often comes in necessary moments whisper, "Have you thought that sometimes I like pride?" "God, You like pride?" I inquired. And then I considered pride in my life. Pride can go all wrong when I boast in myself, my accomplishments, my stuff. 

However, what about the times that I boast in the good things God is doing in me? Should that cause me to wither like a wall flower? On the contrary, I am quite certain that being proud of God in me and allowing God to magnify His gifting in me would cause me to stand taller with my head raised and my shoulders back. A peacock can walk about dragging his tail, or train, along behind him. Or he can raise it up high and spread out every colorful feather, creating a beautiful display of God's creation, thereby revealing God's perfect design in him.

There's another interesting result of displaying the plumage. In doing so, the peacock actually improves his ability to hear similar to a human holding a hand behind his ear. So when I allow all my "feathers" to show, allowing God to use me to my fullest potential with all the gifts He has placed within me, it magnifies sound. I can actually hear better when walking in my full identity. 

Luke 11:28 says, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" Hebrews 2:1 says, "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it."

The good form of pride comes from living in obedience to God, allowing God to display us for His glory. Take the story of Gideon, a son living in fear of the Midianites. An angel appeared, spoke life, vision, and identity into him and Gideon responded with a humble offering. Gideon listened and obeyed, allowing God access to every part of him. As a result:

But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him.

In Judges 6:34, The Spirit came upon Gideon or "clothed" him in fortitude, zeal, strength and might, using him to lead 300 men to subdue Israel's enemy. This victory resulted in 40 years of rest for Israel (Judges 8:28).  God's purposes were accomplished through the beauty of Gideon's God-given giftings fully surrendered, now on display for all to see.

So now I look at the image of the peacock upon my bedroom wall as a reminder...a reminder to humble myself before a mighty God who has the power and the desire to come upon me and use me in mighty ways. And that is the stuff to be proud of...Christ in me, the hope of glory!