Friday 1 February 2019

What Does Living Look Like To You?


Lean in close.

I want to ask you something.

It’s a bit personal.

I’m sorry. I usually don’t do this. I understand you’re a private person. I am, too. I would never do this ordinarily. 

But this is too important.

How do I know?

Because I’ve seen it. Seen it in the eyes of the dying.

On the brink of death, there it was… the burning desire to live fully…

So, I’m asking you…

What does ‘living’ look like to you?


No, don’t answer… not yet…

It’s a question you need to chew on… to digest slowly… to mull over and over.

Some of us envision the ‘doing’ life.

We are the ones who feel most alive when we are doing. Doing a lot… doing big… doing what brings happiness or wealth or success or… doing enough to be recognized…  you get the point.

Then there are those of us who are nestled comfortably in the ‘being’ camp. For us, it’s more important to be true to who we are. We don’t get too caught up in the doing, we’re happy to just be. Or so we say...

But each camp looks longingly at the other and wonders…

Am I missing something?

And with all the doing, and being, and longing, sometimes we miss the simple, sweet story that’s as old as time.

It’s like a fairy tale…

It’s full of wonder… and transports us to a ‘place’ where anything is possible…

It exists outside our time yet within our time…

And it’s filled with excitement and anticipation…

Yes, it’s very much like a fairy tale… except that it’s not.

Its truth whispers to our souls, and we just know.

We know that it’s real.

And if we let it, it comforts and reassures us…

But we complicate things… we muddy the waters…

We don’t believe that the ‘living’ we seek could be so simple…

The feast that is offered to us… well, we’re not always sure about it…

So, we turn away…

It happened once upon a time a long time ago in a garden…

And it happens once upon a time every day in our time…

We miss the point… miss the sincerity and love behind the invitation.

And miss the simplicity and amazing possibility of life as it could be…

A close, sweet walk with the LORD… the Writer of the story.


Fellowship with the God who lovingly weaves us into His story knowing that only therein can we truly live.

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16:11

You see, my question – ‘what does ‘living’ look like for you?’ has many layers.



What it’s really asking is…

Deep down in your heart… do you really trust the heart of God?

Do you truly believe that in His presence you will find what ‘living’ really looks like?

Are you using the ‘starter pack’ He has given? And are you living it out the way He directs?

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness… But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 2 Peter 1: 3 a,5-7

Or do you feel that you are better suited to manage your own affairs? To design the life, you want?

I told you it was personal.

But I’ll share something with you.

Several years ago, when I peered into the eyes of the dying… when I saw there the intense yearning for ‘living’… I vowed that I would live each gift-day to the full.

Yet, I kept feeling like I was missing something… like I wasn’t fully living…

But this year, as I sought my ‘one word’, I felt God calling me to ‘live amazed’…

To live amazed by who He is, what He has done, and what He is doing.

And as I gaze into His word and His world, seeing and savoring the beauty, the goodness, the love, the mercy, the power of the LORD, I am finding that living amazed looks a lot like clinging to Him, listening to Him, and putting His words into practice.

And it humbles me… humbles me that the all-powerful God invites me to cling to Him, weaves me into His timeless love story and empowers me to cultivate a life that brings Him glory.

I’m praying that every day I’ll remember that and live amazed.

So, I’ll ask you one more time…

What does ‘living’ look like to you?

*************************

Grace and peace to you,

Carlie

18 comments:

  1. For me, living is connection and meaningful opportunities to build into those I love by the power of God. Thank you for this moment to ponder that important question.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love that, Michele - connecting and building by the power of God. Thanks for sharing.

      Delete
  2. Living is knowing God is in charge and loves me and those around me. It is living in community with him and those around me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's all about His love, isn't it Theresa? Thanks for adding your voice here.

      Delete
  3. To live amazed is the best we can do. This is the perfect question to ponder - "What does living look like to you?"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's my goal - to live amazed. It requires lifting my eyes and heart to heaven everyday and fixing my thoughts on the all-powerful, all-knowing, ever merciful God.

      Delete
  4. Deep connection leads me to feel most alive. You need to be available, present, and vulnerable. Too often I get caught up in busyness, which often leaves me feeling dead, empty, and resentful. Great post, good food for thought!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love that contrast, Cheryl - available, present, vulnerable: most alive, while caught up in busyness: dead, empty, and resentful. Who wouldn't want to feel alive? Thanks for weighing in so eloquently.

      Delete
  5. You got me right there at the 'doing'. I want to live beyond the need to do, don't you, Carlie?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a constant struggle, my sister, that longing to be free from 'the need to do', but God wants 'more' for us. Freedom and joy, how can we refuse?

      Delete
  6. I think it's the first time I've come across your site. I am so glad I linked the featured post link on faith and friends link up because THIS was a warmth to my heart and soul. I felt the love pouring out. I love the weaving that Jesus Christ does in our life. You gave me a boost of thoughts and a reminder of living to the fullest as I think at times I do need reminding that even with my newer limitations there's so much do dive into. Thank you!! #faithnfriends linkup

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh April, I'm so grateful that it blessed you. Praying that you'll enjoy life to the full as you continue to live amazed, all for His glory.

      Delete
  7. There is such truth here Carlie and I love your one word and where it's taking you. Enjoy the journey and continue to live amazed-happy to stop by from #sittingamongfriends

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the visit, Jill and for your encouraging words. Looking forward to the journey! :)

      Delete
  8. Living is to me like what God intended, sometimes, actually, a lot of times, it takes a holy imagination.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interesting insight, Rebecca. Thanks for weighing in. Blessings!

      Delete
  9. Such a rich post. It makes me want to stop and pay attention to the question. Yet there's the part of me that is almost afraid to listen to the answer, the invitation from Christ Himself to be woven even more into His story. Why? Because it may require me to let go of the "doing", where I also find such rich life.

    My favorite line is... "We miss the point… miss the sincerity and love behind the invitation."

    I pray for grace to stop and respond to His invitation.

    Thanks Carla for this.
    This is

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for your honest, heart-felt comment, Shaunelle! It's so lovely to connect with you here.:)

      Delete

If this post speaks to you, please feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you. You can log-in using one of the pull-down options or comment as anonymous.