In My Dreams…

It’s Monday morning.

You’ve been at work for not even 1hr and already the place is falling apart. 

The phone is ringing nonstop, customers/clients/consumers are already complaining, and your colleagues make you wish you had a lock on your office door and an off switch for your ears…or their mouths.

If one more person asks you another “simple” question, you might just tell them ALL about themselves and what they can do with that ridiculous question of theirs.

You are beyond ready to go home for the day. The week. Or maybe even the year.

Didn’t they all know that you locked yourself out of the car this morning…because you had forgotten your much-needed cup of coffee in the house? The same coffee that you spilled on your cute white blouse as you slammed on the brakes because some speed racer cut you off.  But you didn’t have time to worry about that because you needed to make that 9am team meeting on time. You drove like a madwoman, slid your way into your spot, bypassed the elevators and took the stairs all so that you could make it in time for the meeting….which got moved to tomorrow instead. *Big sigh*

It’s already been a trying morning and it’s only 1hr in….how are you going to make it the other 7hrs of this day???

You close your eyes for a second to breathe and in that time, you mentally take yourself anywhere but your current location. 

You imagine that you are on a nearby beach, sitting in the sand, gazing at the waves crashing into each other. The sun is shining brightly and you can feel Heaven kissing you with love. You can literally smell the beachside grills, hear the children laughing as they build sandcastles with their parents, and feel the sand in between your freshly pedicured toes.

You are happy. You are at peace. This is your quiet place. This is where you retreat when the world is attempting to break you.

Just as you are about to take a sip of your favorite beachtime frozen beverage, you hear your colleague calling your name for the uptenth time, forcing you out of your vivid dream. 

Back to work you must now go. But don’t strangle your colleague; you need this job so that you can really have that beach dream.

Back to reality…

How did that daydream make you feel? Did you fight to keep your eyes closed and stay in the dream? It’s ok, I did the same.

For me, it is the best feeling in the world. Being able to close my eyes and envision that I am anywhere in the world except for my current location helps me relax. Truthfully, the beach is always my escape-cation. Whenever I feel the world’s pressure closing in on me, I lean back and drift off to my mind’s beach…or to a real beach, when possible.

I don’t know what it is about water but it calms me. Which is ironic because I cannot swim at all. As soon as I get to a beach, I walk up to the shore’s edge, stand in the water, and stare at where the Heaven and water “kiss.” It is in that moment- standing at a big ocean’s beginning- that I feel most at peace. In that peaceful moment, I converse endlessly with God and tell Him all of my heart’s desires. I know He already knows but I just enjoy conversing with Him- like any child enjoys conversing with his/her father.

I stand with my feet firmly planted (in what should be the scariest place in the world to me as a non-swimmer) and I close my eyes so that my heart can begin to receive its nourishment. I feel full and filled standing there in the water. I have God and He has me. There’s nothing else that I need.

Let’s dive into that for a sec…

The place where I feel the most at peace is the one place on this earth where I should be the most afraid. I can’t swim, like, I CANNOT swim at all. So when placed by a large body of water, I should feel terrified (as a matter of fact, I shouldn’t be there at all!) but I’m not afraid. In fact, I run straight to the water. I can feel at peace because I know God is with me. He is holding me in the palm of His hand and I know He won’t let any harm come my way.

My God; You are so powerful!

But at some point I must go back home. And since I do not live near a beach and regular getaways are not possible, I have to find another way to get that same “filled” feeling. After trying many cheap substitutions (i.e. companionship, junk food, and alcohol), I realized that God was the only one who could ever make me feel whole.

I have never claimed to be perfect. Nor have I ever claimed that I have my life together. I am just a 30something year old is flawed by nature but saved by grace. I have made and still make many mistakes- I will never be perfect. But when I fall, I get back up, dust myself off, and continue to walk with God. For it is in my imperfection that I am able to see just how perfect God is.

Recap and reflection: We all have different methods of relaxation and coping but I challenge you to turn to your Heavenly Father for peace. His true peace surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Where do you feel most afraid/scared? I dare you to let Him speak to your heart today.  Give all of your fears, your hurts, and your pains to the only One who is able to heal you. Beloved, it is time heal your wounds. It is time to find peace.