All I am, All I am, All I am, All I am

You are where I belong. Walking this morning with Lucy, headphones on, Paper Route's new album introducing itself to my ears and now thoughts pour in. Walking faster heart racing slightly as I start thinking of my beloved hills as my feet touch the concrete, I imagine the dirt ground instead. I look up at the trees and see the sun shining through and I can see the hills in a distance and the water's giving be the breezy shoulder. Then the song that I do know comes on Better Life. And with all of life's joys I long for the day with you Lord, where no more sorrow, no more emails of people reaching out in pain for an answer. No more trips to console youth who have been betrayed and feel nothing. NO more flesh and taking thoughts captive. And yes, because of 9/11. Some days more restless than others. Re-reading my Hinds Feet where the author writes.. But the High Places of victory and union with Christ cannot be reached by any mental reckoning of self to be dead to sin, or by seeking to devise some way or discipline by which the will can be crucified. The only way is by learning to accept, day by day, the actual conditions and tests permitted by actual conditions and tests permitted by God, by a continually repeated laying down of our own will and acceptance of his as it is presented to us in the form of the people with whom we have to live and work, and in the things which happen to us. Every acceptance of His will becomes an altar of sacrifice, and every such surrender and abandonment of ourselves to His will is a means of furthering us on the way to the High Places to which He desires to bring every child of His while they are still living on earth. The lessons of accepting and triumphing over evil, of becoming acquainted with grief, and pain, and, ultimately, of finding them transformed into something incomparably precious; of learning through constant glad surrender to know the Lord of Love Himself in a new way and to experience unbroken union with Him- these are the lessons of the allegory in this book. The High Places and the hind's feet do not refer to heavenly places after death, but are meant to be the glorious experience of God's children here and now- if they will follow the path He chooses for them. Perhaps the Lord will use it to speak comfort to some of His loved ones who are finding themselves forced to keep company with Sorrow and Suffering, or who walk in darkness and have no light or feel themselves tossed with tempest and not comforted. It may help them to understand a new meaning in what is happening, for the experiences through which they are passing are all part of the wonderful process by which the Lord is making real in their lives the same experience which made David and Habakkuk cry out EXULTANTLY, "The Lord God maketh my feet like hind's feet, and setteth me upon mine High Places." As I was halfway through my walk I was feeling so I don't know, I wasn't taking thoughts captive in that moment. And I looked up again and a cluster of birds are flying over my head. Those are the birds I used to see constantly in the hills and became a symbol of God showing me He was there with me, and they are also a symbol of freedom. Oh Lord how good you are to me, you continue to show me your love despite how I view myself at times. You are where I belong always. I am in awe of your love daily. I will praise you in storms with your help. And I am thankful for your faithfulness.

In conclusion of my walk, I am filled with His love and filled with admiration to the Paper Route gang who have a gift. Peace