“Pay attention to where is your attention drawn,” the retreat leader instructed. “What is the Lord saying to you through that?”
Bees. That’s where my attention was mostly drawn again. Plus some mushrooms and a bird later in the day.
Similes and metaphors – a simile is when we say that something is similar to something else (‘You are like a breath of fresh air’) while a metaphor is when we say that something IS something else (‘You are a breath of fresh air’).
The Bible is full of similes and metaphors. Consider the following quotes: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field” (Matthew 13:44 – simile) and one of my favourite metaphors, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge….” (Psalm 91:4 NIV).
Find joy in your work
Is it Biblical to enjoy your work?
The Bible has a lot to say about ‘work’ and a lot to say about ‘joy’. But what about finding joy in my work?
This bee – above – seems to be thoroughly enjoying its work of collecting nectar. And it is covered in pollen. I enjoyed watching a great variety of bees flit about the gorgeous gardens of the retreat centre on day four of the retreat. In the process of carrying out its own work – collecting nectar – it is also nourishing itself, serving its own community as well as blessing other parts of creation through pollinating plants.
Is it too self-centred to think that God could be encouraging myself to throw myself into my work with joy?
It’s not that I don’t enjoy my work. It’s just that I feel guilty at times for enjoying the ‘perks’ that come in my line of work. Travel (including this trip which was primarily for meetings the following week), time with special people, pursuing my interests of languages and cultures – these are just a few of the lovely parts of my ‘job’.
I’m reminded of ‘The Philosopher’ of old, who comes across as a grumpy old fellow but penned these wise words:
So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing. better for a person under the sun that than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 8:15 NIV
What about bad weather days?
It’s all very well for bees to enjoy buzzing about the garden on a beautiful day, but what about bad weather days? And what about when winter comes and the flowers have finished? What then?
Though I LOVE my job (if one could even call it ‘a job’), it’s not all pleasure. I enjoy travelling, but dietary limitations these days make travel stressful at times, and my digestive woes often flare up. The first two weeks away are usually nice but after that I long for the familiarity of home. (I’m usually away for a month or so each time.) I envy friends with careers which bring financial security, though don’t regret for a moment my own career choices. I hugely appreciate the kind people who support me financially. ‘Living by faith’ is a grand old adventure … most of the time.
What, if anything, would the Lord say to me about that?
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 NIV
Right. Good point.
Pushing through
During a delightful wander in what is known as ‘Rosalind’s Forest’ in the afternoon of day four of the retreat (named for a cross-cultural worker who loved that forest), I spent time admiring two mushrooms. Fungi are soft and easily broken. Yet one had already pushed through the leaf litter and moss on the forest floor, without force but with persistence. The other was still working its way up.
I identify with these fungi in some ways. I don’t feel big or strong or forceful, but I can still be useful in God’s kingdom work.
I think of the Bible’s metaphor of the community of God’s people as a body, with the head being Christ (1 Corinthians 12). Some parts look more impressive, while others appear weaker, yet all belong to the body and each brings its own unique contribution. Similarly with a forest – there are trees and there are mushrooms, amongst other things. In contemplating this pair of mushrooms, I am reminded of the value of persistence in the roles that God has entrusted to me.
Fun times or not, just keep pushing on.
Joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.
Up, up and away
I wasn’t looking forward to the meetings that I was travelling to right after this retreat. In fact, I felt quite out of my depth, and that was just through the pre-reading we were asked to do. It was a ‘leaders’ consultation’ for the agency through which I work, and I kept telling anyone who would listen that I didn’t really belong there. I was only attending because my team leader couldn’t – I would be representing her.
Everything in that paragraph is true, but as I watched this bird take off, I felt God’s nudge to do likewise. The retreat had been lovely, but this wasn’t where I belonged. Not for long, anyhow.
As our retreat leader had explained at the beginning of our week together, one retreats in order to re-group, re-strategise, then from that position, to re-advance. If we stay in our retreat positions, then that is not ‘retreat’ – it is ‘surrender’.
As the retreat drew to a close, it was time to pack my bags. God had work for me to do, and the following week, that work would be to represent our team and speak into relevant matters at the leaders’ consultation.
It had been a delightful week of practising ‘visio divina’ each day in the company of fellow travellers. I was very thankful to have had such a special week away.
And so, re-visioned, re-focused, re-energised, I said goodbye and thank you.
It was time to re-engage.
