Losing all space and time, I find myself in another
world. I’m transported from that quaint little coffee shop in the middle of
downtown Cheney to somewhere outside the constraints of my Tuesday afternoon.
His voice is calling me – beckoning me toward Him. Unaware of anything going on
around me, I answer the call. His peace envelops me and washes over my senses.
I sit there listening for His voice and drinking in the beauty of His majesty.
His love captivates and surprises me – the very depth of it more than I can
begin to fathom. He reminds me just how important I am to Him. I am His
treasured jewel, and He has an investment in me. Yes, He has His life invested in me. Everything within
me falls to the ground in an act of utter surrender as I humble myself before
Him, the Almighty. What could I have done to deserve this gift, this sacrifice?
Nothing. The fact is: I don’t deserve it. The natural me will walk right out
the door of that shop, promptly return to that busy life which demands rapt
attention to school work and the trivial problems of the day, and forget all
about His immense desire for me. But even through all of that, I hear His
whispered “come back to Me” right
when I least expect it. When my thoughts are set to neutral in my brain and wander
around wherever they please, they often meander to the not so pleasant mountains
of worry and stress. That is why His Word tells me to take captive every
thought. Then His whispered calling will become irresistible again as I rush to
Him soaking up His every word. My soul thirsts and longs for Him because His
love is better than life.
As I write the last few lines down in the pages of my
journal, the worship music slowly fades away. Not willing to leave the place where
I was, I gazed out the window to the blue sky dotted with clouds. My
surroundings come seeping back into my reality as a girl’s laughter flows
freely at the table next to me. I smile as I appreciate the ability to
experience joy. Laughter, in its genuine form, is one of the most beautiful
things to my mind. Just the pure joy that is experienced from laughing is
comparable to none but that which He gives. I smile to myself as I imagine the
pure laughter that must be ubiquitous in His presence. What could it be like to
stand before Him? Emotions would come in waves…thankfulness…awe…joy…happiness…reverence
…humbleness…peace…clarity...laughter. I can only imagine the smile spread from
ear to ear across His face and His eyes twinkling as He sees me, His beautiful
daughter, joining Him. His must have the most beautiful smile. What fun we will
have together spending the day laughing and joking around! I can hear Him
laughing now – a deep, joyful laugh that evokes involuntary laughter in
yourself. You can’t help but join in his delight.
We are made in His likeness and image, and I know that
each and every smile reflects His own. He gave me the gift of laughter, and I will
use it to spread joy liberally around. I slowly gathered my books and walked
out of the Mason Jar refreshed and with a new perspective. My laughter is
merely a reflection of that which He has given to me, and each time I do laugh
whether it be with a group, a friend, or to myself I will remind myself that He
is right there with me – smiling and laughing as well.
