I found joy… in the wind

Posted on by Robin Wisner

It’s fascinating to me to think that although we can’t see the wind, we know it’s there. How? We see its effect on the objects with which it interacts. Our vision captures the movement of fall leaves, tall grass, and wispy branches. When we hear wind, it is actually its friction against other objects. I love the sound of the wind rustling leaves. Have you ever intently listened to a gentle breeze?

This morning, as I walked my dogs through our quiet little neighborhood, I was blessed by the sound of the wind in the trees. It rushed in waves, forcefully for a moment, then a calm lull.  A leaf pile was ever so delicately disturbed as the tender force skimmed its peak and wafted a few souls away. So beautiful.

The Holy Spirit is like the wind. While we can’t see it with our eyes, we know it is there by the undeniable effect on our soul. And just like the wind, the Holy Spirit is anywhere and everywhere. You can draw it into your spirit at any time.

May you enjoy a deep breath of fresh air today and soak in the Holy Spirit.

The Joy of Choosing

Posted on by Robin Wisner

Welcome to Election Day 2012! Today is the day that American citizens have the awesome opportunity to exercise the freedom of choice. By now, most of us are tired of the constant barrage of political advertisements, door knocks, and phone calls. Recent conversations consist mainly of complaints about either the opposing party or the entire political system. Living in a free, democratic society is a privilege that most of us take for granted. We cannot inculcate how fortunate we are to possess the inalienable right to exert our voice in a free election.  How many souls around the globe would gladly give their life in exchange for the freedom we thoughtlessly enjoy every day? Masterfully created by our forefathers, the United States Constitution provides her citizens the ability to equally place a hand on the steering wheel of the democratic vehicle.

Do we behold the exceptional nature of our country? Most often, we digress into petty diatribes, spewing unkindness and prejudice across social media. It’s so easy to do, hiding behind a computer screen. Consequently, this does not bring joy, so let us turn our focus toward the overarching idea of choices.

Every moment of every day, we make choices; whether to get out of bed or sleep in, speak the truth or lie, obey authority or rebel. Moment to moment we have the gift of choice! What’s more, we have the choice of how we react in those moments. Will we choose joy or discontentment? I am of the opinion that it is not our nature to choose joy, but rather a learned discipline. One must choose to search, investigate, and dig to find redemption in any given circumstance.  By nature, we are swayed by our basic instincts. Our appetite, selfishness, and pride easily lead us into hasty decisions.

In just a few hours, we will know the results of the 2012 presidential election. Whether our chosen candidate wins or loses, we have a choice of how we will react. We have a choice to bring peace or strife.  I pray we will choose the path that brings joy.

Regardless of even the worst circumstances, rejoice in the knowledge that we always have a choice!

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice

The Joy of Vision

Posted on by Robin Wisner

I do not know when it happened. It seemed to have slipped away suddenly. My vision, that is. I managed to hold off on reading glasses until only two years ago. My optometrist was impressed that I had outlasted most people ‘my age’. I set aside my pride and put on the reading glasses. I did not realize how badly I needed them until I started using them.

I don’t know exactly when the deterioration started, but it probably stretched over much more time than I care to admit. Along with it, I noticed an intruding grumpiness. I like to read and I need to read… a lot. This constant strain to focus, even with my glasses, was very frustrating. I was irritated that my body was not working the way I wanted it to, and it was out of my control. Lack of vision robbed me of joy.

I finally proscribed my pity party and went for an eye exam. Had it really been two years? Anxiously, I awaited new lenses. Finally…I can see! I can see! Great God almighty, I can see!!   What a JOY to be able to read the small print and delight over my literature with ease!

I speak literally of vision here, but it brings to mind the importance of a life vision. Just as it is useless to read without spectacles, a life without a vision is purposeless. “Where there is no vision, the people will perish” Proverbs 29:18

I am gobsmacked by the connection I now see between biological and spiritual vision. How long will I ignore the incessant tugging at my soul before I go to the Ultimate Optometrist for guidance? Just as my lack of physical vision distracts me from joy, so too does my lack of God’s vision for my life. If I do not ask, seek, and knock, I am just fumbling in the dark.

I am not aware of a single piece of scripture that instructs us to set personal goals for things such as education, career, or material wealth. The vision referred to in Proverbs 29:18 is an eternal one; something that goes against everything the world tells us. It has everything to do with God’s plan and purpose for us in His kingdom. In order to grasp it, I must get a new prescription; one that helps me see the world through His eyes. Open my eyes to your heart Lord, I want to see you.

Joy Comes in the Morning

Posted on by Robin Wisner

I’m still working on finding at least one thing each day that brings genuine joy. I’m having to dig deeper to find something new. I have observed on the days when I have not focused my attention on seeking joy,  I don’t remember finding any. As I crawled into bed those nights, I did not have that peaceful sense of purpose in my heart as compared to the days when I was intentional. It was just another day of checking boxes. But there is hope! I am learning to go beyond and search for joy in new things that I had not considered before.

This morning I was awakened, as usual, by the menagerie of pets desiring to be fed. We have the same routine every day.  However, this morning when I let the dogs out, I stayed out on the back deck a little longer, despite the biting cold breeze. The sky was still and peaceful; pregnant with promise. The clouds were busy going who-knows-where. The sun broke through the horizon and I imagined I could hear singing.

What if the sunrise was a symphony? I can just imagine our divine Creator, baton in hand, conducting every nuance of the performance. As he cues the sun to rise, he whispers softly over his shoulder to the early birds, “Gently now, little ones. Keep the chatter in sync with the pace of the Sun rising in the sky.” Next, he waves to the west, signaling for the cumulus clouds to gently flow in, in harmony with the vibrations of the sun. What would the sun sound like? I am not a musician, so please excuse my clunky terminology. But I imagine that the sun would have a deep, bass roar; growing in volume as it peaked above the horizon. Sort of like the sound of a great warrior riding his chariot into an ancient battle. It’s depth and richness cause the stars to vibrate ever so slightly. The clouds would sound like violins, slow and easy. Perhaps the trees would be the percussion section.

It’s all in my imagination, but it is quite entertaining to ponder. What a blessing that I can find this joy every single day, right outside my window. No admission fee. No dress code. Just bring an open mind and heart.

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.

 

The Joy of Creativity

Posted on by Robin Wisner

“…even abstract art depends on what God has made. No artist can invent a color. Every geometric from, every phenomenon of light, every texture, no matter how it is arranged, falls within the circle of God’s original creation. We speak of artists creating, but that is something of a misnomer. Only God creates. Human beings can make things too, since God graciously multiplies His creativity and His creatures, but human beings are not autonomous. We can only make use, in our faint and halting way, of what God has first given us.” (Veith 154)

I am brushing up on my art history knowledge this morning. I’ve read, State of the Arts, from Bezalel to Mappelthorpe before, but this morning, this passage particularly struck a chord with me. I love to create things with my hands. I wish I carved out more time to do it! There’s nothing like the joy of taking raw materials and molding them into something beautiful, if not useful. It blows my mind to think about the above statement. There is nothing that we create brand new, really. Everything we create is an imitation of something that God already designed. Colors, shapes, patterns, textures, if God hadn’t created it all, we wouldn’t be able to use it.

I look at the Biblical story of creation in a new perspective. God not only separated dark from light, land from water, and turned shapeless to form, he gave us all the essential elements needed to create art; light, form, and unity. We cannot create anything of an intelligible form without these factors. Imagine the intricacy of forest. He didn’t just pour out some green, gooey, fertilizer with some random sampling of seeds (although he could have).  He created an entire eco-system, complete with innumerable variations of species, each intricately designed. Stable in the soil, soaking up and synthesizing solar energy, and providing oxygen.  Can I make even one leaf?

The universe isn’t merely functional, it is beautiful. All things are created by God – Created from nothing, not just shaped. We are created in His image and given the ability to perceive and imitate the beauty of our Creator. We are created in His divine image, and therefore, cannot escape our natural desire to create.

What type of creative activity brings you joy? I hope you’ll take time to meditate on this and intentionally allow creation to bring you joy.

 

 

 

Veith, Gene Edward. “Chapter 9, Creation and Imitation.” State of the Arts: From Bezalel to Mapplethorpe. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1991. N. pag. Print.

There will be storms

Posted on by Robin Wisner

Photo By LUCAS JACKSON/REUTERS

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by Hurricane Sandy this week. The full extent has not yet been determined, but the damage is of unprecedented, epic proportions. I join with so many of you that I’m sure are counting your blessings this morning.

Storms, whether meteorological or metaphorical, are a reality of life on earth. It seems we are in a never-ending cycle; either just going into a storm, in the midst of a storm, or coming out of a storm. It’s inevitable. What matters most is what we do in the midst of it.

Consider the hurricane. The ‘eye’ is typically a circular area found in the center. It is surrounded by a ring of violent thunderstorms and as we know, the repercussions of it can be far-reaching – triggering other disastrous events. But at the very core of the ‘eye’, the axis of rotation, the winds are calm. There is little or no precipitation and sometimes blue sky or stars can be seen. Now, this is a very simplistic explanation, but how can we apply this to life?

What if we were able to live in the ‘eye’ of the storms of life? What if, no matter how loud the troubles that surrounded us bellowed, we could find peace, calm, and serenity? What if, we could choose to be still and trust in the middle of the storm? This is not to suggest that we do nothing to proactively prepare for the storm. However, when it comes, and it will, we have a choice. Do we try to escape through the wall of thunder and lightning, bursting through only to get caught up in the raging winds that encircle and toss us off our path, or do we center ourselves, trust, and ride it out? The latter, goes completely against our natural instincts.

And what comes after the storm? Depending on our focus, we will see how we have grown spiritually and emotionally. We might even cross paths with someone else who is experiencing the same type of storm and we can share with them the hope that comes in the aftermath. Dare I say that we can find joy, in the storm?

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; 

he knows those who take refuge in him.” Nahum 1:7

 

source: http://gohsep.la.gov/factsheets/FactsAboutHurricaneEye.htm

Battling the Joy Killer

Posted on by Robin Wisner

Photo credit: http://wallpaperscristaos.com.br

In the midst of busy lives, we must not forget that an enemy lurks… the joy killer. To be unaware or unconcerned is to be as vulnerable as a lamb among a pack of wolves. My intention here is not to be an alarmist, but state the fact that we live in a world of opposing forces. We must know our enemy.

My husband just returned from a long weekend Christian retreat. Before he left, a friend of mine wisely advised, “Be prepared for attacks from the enemy. This experience is a big deal and the enemy does not want him to gain anything from it.”

During the four days he was gone, I admit, I felt a little fearful. In the back of my mind, I expected something traumatic to happen while he was away. Something that would cause him worry or worse, to leave the retreat early.  However, it turned out to be an uneventful weekend (with the exception of hurricane preparations), and by the time he returned I felt certain that we had avoided evil. I was not prepared for the attack that came after he returned home.

How easily do we fall into the trap? A slight change in tone of voice, a facial expression, or simply not giving our full attention… all ways that the enemy can slip a foot in there and stir up emotions and misunderstandings. The enemy doesn’t really need to work that hard to get us off track. All he needs to do is look at what distracts us and push more of it in front of us. Sometimes, it feels like we’re just being tossed upon the rough seas.

 

Photo Credit: http://nuleafdental.co.uk/b/6d8e8ff9d9

So where do we turn when the joy killer begins to strike? Personally, I stop what I’m doing and pray. It may be short and sweet, but in that  moment, I ask God to help me correct my part of the conflict. I ask Him to clear our minds of whatever the damaging spirit is. I turn it over to him. Then I take a deep breath and take a “do-over.” My husband has learned to separate himself from the situation and retreats to his personal space to listen to worship music or play his guitar. It’s funny, we’ve never verbalized to each other our strategies but somehow, we know what to do and it works.

Thirty minutes has gone by. I hear Hillsong playing in the basement. For the moment, the joy-killer has been arrested.