Ponderings While I Recharge

On my bicycle, the place where I commune with God, whispering His Love to me

Life has become exponentially more busy since I became the volunteer coordinator for Cities4Life.  Besides being busier, I have more and more people who are awesome in my life since every volunteer I work with is beyond amazing. I love all of them but like most introverts, I recharge when I am alone...and I have very little alone time anymore.

To FULLY recharge, I need to not only be alone, but ideally, alone in nature. Even my weekends have been busy with Cities4Life issues of late, and it is hard to back off since real lives hang in the balance. But this Saturday, I took off early in the morning to bike ride. I biked on the green-way near my house, and only fielded a couple of work related texts.

Then, after resting, I dashed out again after lunch to kayak. I didn't realize a MAJOR nasty storm was on the way. I kayaked peacefully along quiet coves and even saw deer scattered among the lake mansions. The solitude was very restorative.

Deer watches me in my kayak from the shore

I sat and bobbed in the water taking lots of water breaks since it was so hot. The scenery on Lake Wylie is spectacular. I could feel God's hands rocking my boat and soothing my soul. I also had a lot of fun playing with my new iPhone 7 plus camera.

I got out and sat in the water to cool off, and then noticed there were some rather terrifying dark clouds filling the sky. A very sharp clear jagged streak of lightning blazed across the billowing thunderhead.

Clueless that major storm brewing in the portion of sky NOT pictured in the photo

Where did that come from??? It was blue sky and puffy white clouds on one horizon! But the other horizon was not at all a comforting sight. I paddled as fast as I could back to the dock. Just in time. The wind was getting ferocious, and churning up ocean sized white-caps.

As I drove home, listening to the radio, a weather alert interrupted with news that in my very area, 60 mph gusts were reported, with hail, and dangerous lightning. Hubby texted me asking if I was okay as a nasty storm was pelting our home. When I returned to our neighborhood, I was diverted by people in the streets, waving me to detours because trees were down all over the neighborhood!

I'd escaped from the lake in the nick of time!

This made me ponder a deeper truth. So many people I care about are looking at blue skies and have no idea that a storm is gathering at their back. They choose not to turn around and look on the threat that is so close to overtaking them. I cry out in warning, but seemingly to no avail. My heart is heavy for them, knowing that fatal storms can engulf us at any time.

Oh please, dear friends, family, and even strangers. Before it is too late. Please turn to the creator of the universe, the one who loves you and longs for you to come to Him.

He says, I listened to you at the right time, and I helped you on the day of salvation. Look, now is the right time! Look, now is the day of salvation! 2 Corinthians 6:2

Maybe you wait, wondering where God is and why He is not seeking retribution now for all the evil and horror of the world. He is waiting as long as possible, that none should perish. He wants every soul to turn back to Him. He longs for you. He loves you. Please heed His call. Now. Before you are stuck inescapably in the final storm.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.