It all depends on your point of view
/We have a hill across the street from where we live. Ours is what you would call a "single-loaded" street - which is real estate code for "no houses across the street." So, no houses, but a big ole hill. There's actually a water tower up at the top of the hill.
And the road to get up there is steep. Not just a slight incline either. It's huffing-and-puffing-and-im-possi-ble-to-speak steep. You get the picture. Big hill.
So now that the days are cooler and there's less chance of me dropping dead from a heat stroke, we've been challenging ourselves to go up the fire road and walk up to the top of the hill to watch the sunset. Oh yes, and pray.
This is a huge thing for me. I have crummy old cheerleader knees, who actually have annoyingly squeaky voices and complain loudly and make defeating noises as often as possible.
But based on the example of some good friends, Eric and I have been hiking up to the top of the hill each evening to spend some time catching up together and again, praying.
On a clear day, which this is not, you can see Disneyland when you look north from the top of our hill. (always a happy thought.)
If you look south coming down the road, you can see our house. That's it below with the RED door.
Isn't it just fabulous?
A few things seem to be happening as we go on these nightly walk/hikes.
We're communicating better. It's a great way to talk about big issues without sitting awkwardly wondering where to look. And we're much more deliberate and intentional about praying.
And from this vantage point, we pray according to our line of sight:
First for our home and family, then for our neighbors, then for our city, then for our state, then for our land and our elected leaders.
The election didn't go according to how we chose to vote, but like the Prophet Jeremiah in the Bible so eloquently wrote in the book of Lamentations:
we are not consumed,
for his mercies never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness."
~Lamentations 3:22-23
But it has caused us to sober up and cling to each other and get serious about talking to God. We are not discouraged. We are looking expectantly to every new morning where we are promised to find mercy.
And that's where we want to LIVE.
Keep the faith.
~ Marta
