Tuesday, January 24, 2006
LEAN INTO THE WIND
LEAN INTO THE WIND
By Susan Titus Osborn
Jan 24 2006 05:00AM
As I scanned the horizon, my eyes focused on a sailboat gliding out of
the bay. The boat cruised smoothly for a while, but then the wind
changed directions. The mainsail flapped uselessly in the breeze, and
the boat slowed to a near halt. The boat's pilot turned the rudder and
guided his craft back into the wind. The sails caught the breeze and
filled, and soon the vessel glided swiftly out of the harbor.
While I watched the sailor fight the wind, I thought of a parallel in
my own life. I had been working through a situation that caused inner
turmoil and suffering. I felt like the mainsail, flapping in the wind
with no sense of direction. When my husband of twenty-two years was
suddenly no longer a part of my life, feelings of inadequacy and dozens
of unanswerable questions filled my mind.
Then there was the adjustment of trying to balance a career, make ends
meet, and still find the time to be a good mother to my two sons. It
made for long workdays that left me tired and resentful. I longed for
those happier, calmer days when I wasn't fighting the wind or battling
my inner pain. Why had my world suddenly changed? Anger sapped my
strength. In frustration, I lashed out at God. "Lord, take this hurt
away. Why have these things happened to me?"
Nevertheless, the situation remained unchanged; my questions went
unanswered. and God seemed silent and unreachable. I kept racing
around, fragmented and torn, never pausing to listen to the still,
small voice of God.
However, after a period of time, a remarkable thing happened. Instead
of mentally avoiding the problems in my life and blaming God, I decided
to take a different approach. Perhaps what I had assumed to be God's
lack of concern was actually my lack of ability to listen to God. I
learned to lean into the wind instead of avoiding or fighting it.
Like that sailboat slanting back into the wind, I deliberately decided
to find joy in the midst of my circumstances. Instead of asking God to
remove my problems, I prayed that He would stand by me throughout the
ordeal. Then I took the time to listen for His reply. I found time to
spend in His Word each day in spite of my schedule.
Although I was still a single parent, joggling finances, career, and
teenagers, I no longer felt overwhelmed. Depending on His strength to
guide me brought the peace that I'd been seeking.
>From "Rest Stops for Single Moms"
PRAYER
"Lord, you have been gracious and merciful towards your people. Fill
me with your Holy Spirit that I may bear witness to the joy of the
gospel to those around me."
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