faith-walk

This was supposed to be a coffee shop. There used to be one here, I am certain of that. There are tables, chairs, and booths, a counter, several microwaves, an obviously defunct soft drink machine; through an opening in the wall behind the counter I can see what could have been a kitchen. The room smells like popcorn, and I am hungry. Just outside in the atrium is an umbrella table. Cute, but presently unused and useless.

I am in a large building where my husband Bill has a meeting. I came with him because I wanted some time away from my usual milieu. The plan was to have breakfast and some writing time while Bill is in his meeting.

Oh, that popcorn smells good!

Life sometimes seems like this room — meant for sustenance and companionship, but empty. Lives that were once busy and useful. What happened? What sucked the life out of them? Why is their purpose not being fulfilled?

Only with the Lord God can we know real, lasting fulfillment. Psalm 91 tells us that “he who resides in the shelter of the Almighty rests in the shadow of the Lord God.” In that shelter, in the shadow of almighty God, there is fullness and purpose. Move out of that shelter, and life becomes lonely, empty as this forgotten room.

Just now a man sat down at the umbrella table and is spreading out papers, beginning to work. Was that the original purpose of that table? Maybe, or maybe not. Either way, its usefulness is being renewed. When we move back into God’s shelter, He renews us, sometimes giving us new direction and renewed purpose.

He is doing just that in the life of my family. And it is exciting! More about this later …

P.S. Someone just came in, popped more corn, and left — leaving behind a delicious scent. As Christians, we also leave a scent — if we are in His will it will be the scent of God, the scent that brings hunger for Him!