19/03/2023
When we're always looking ahead at what's next, we can miss the opportunities we're standing in right now.
Here's a word of encouragement from Tatum Lawn to you all 🌻
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When travelling through Europe in my early twenties, one of the top things on my ‘to do’ list was to walk through a field of sunflowers in Tuscany. It was up there with picnic under the Eiffel tower. While my sister and I managed a not-so-Pinterest-worthy snack under the tower, we passed many fields while sitting on public buses. I made a note-to-self to hire a car next time so we could stop when wanted. Funnily enough, I grieved this missed opportunity.
A few years later when travelling in Italy with my husband and family, I thought this moment might be redeemed. It didn’t cross my mind that the season we were travelling in may not be conducive to my plans. After some research, I discovered this crop only flowers for about three weeks of the year. Again, I had missed the chance to walk among these flowers under the Tuscan sun (woe is me — I know).
Recently, however, while standing in a field of these sun-worshipping plants — only driving distance from home — it was a sweet reminder that most often the greatest and simplest joys can be found where we are. Rather than living with only a future-oriented mindset, I am reminded to cultivate the life where I am planted. May we not be so fixated on a harvest or new season that we neglect to tend the ground we’re on as well. And may we have the wisdom to know how and when to plan and prepare for what may be ahead.
When it comes to life’s milestones, it can be easy to live in a mindset that we’ll be content or find happiness when x, y or z happens. And what a blessing and gift it can be when it does. But how many of us reach that goal, or have our desires fulfilled, and still find our hearts yearning for more – our souls seeking complete contentment? We look to created things to fill a void that can only be fulfilled by our Creator.
Friends, the Lord gives us the strength and ability to be content where we are — while having the freedom to seek growth, compound healthy habits or pray for change. But know that the change won’t fill that void. The “next” thing — whatever that may be — won’t bring the contentment you deeply desire, or satisfy our aching souls. We can only find this in Jesus.
Sunflowers stand tallest in the day. When darkness comes, they grow weak — their strength is found in the light. And their faces are always turned towards the sun. I love the message in this for us. When dawn breaks each day, let us look toward the Son. He is our strength. And our joy is found in Him.
Philippians 4:4-13
Hebrews 13:5-6
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Psalm 23
Matthew 6:19-34
Ecclesiastes 3:11
