Day 220

Day 220 of  The Red Shoe Project had arrived!  My eyes were barely open when I glanced at my phone to check out the time.  A text was waiting for me...  "Can you meet?"  My girlfriend wrote that message hours ago, so I literally jumped out of bed, dressed, brought Pauly for his walk and headed out the door, in RED flip flops.   My pal had other errands to do first, so she didn't have a specific meeting time.  With that in mind,  I headed up to the local coffee shop where we would connect.  I ordered an iced chai, plugged in my laptop and popped in some ear buds.  I'd write while I waited.


I don't know what it is about Me, Coffee Shops and Pandora, but when shaken together, it often presents to me an easy access point to God.  I guess worship music flooding my brain while I pound out meditations on the keyboard just does it for me.  I have to be ever so careful as to not break out dancing right there in the center of all the foot traffic waiting to place their coffee orders.  Seriously... I really do have to be careful when I pop those ear buds in... especially when I close my eyes and focus on the words.  I get swept away so easily.

 Last week, it happened while I was at home.  I was sitting at my office desk, totally lost in worship and prayer when suddenly my daughter gently tapped me on the shoulder.  Yikes!  I didn't even know she was home.  She must have slipped in the front door without my even noticing.

"I love you Mom.  And it's great that you're 

worshipping God and praying, but it's really 

distracting and I'm in the other room on the 

phone."

"You can hear me?"  I asked.

I thought I was just moving my lips, singing and praying to myself.  Guess not.   How I pray and sing when I think no one is around is quite different than when I'm in the company of others.  With people, I'm conservative, considerate, and acceptable.  When it's just me and God...
I'm loose, free and without reservation.  I'm explosive, and totally unacceptable!   Not to mention, God doesn't care if I'm off key, too loud, or get the words all wrong.  He loves my reckless love and worship and I love the
liberty He extends me to do that!


As I sit here, quietly typing this blog, a song comes on: "Exalted"  by Chris Tomlin.  Oh no!  Here we go.  I feel the tugging.  Right here!  Right now!  

"Come on in!"
 shouts the Lord,

as if He were calling me to join Him.

"The water's wonderful!  

Cool!   Refreshing!    
Don't miss out on this!"   

"Here I come!"

 my soul cries out.

In my mind, I picture myself running down the deck shouting, "Cannonball!"

 

* * * SPLASH! * * *  

I'm in!  Glory to God!  Oh how I love this!   I hear myself shouting in my head... "Jesus!"  I'm  laughing and splashing as I dunk my head under the water over and over again.  I can somersault.  I can tread water.  I can float on my back.  It's all good! 

Yes... I'm doing all this in Starbucks, as I wait for my friend to arrive! LOL.  

The minutes have turned to hours.  Time flies when you're having fun.  I'm noticing the lunch crowd has come and gone.  Jesus and I are still here, enjoying one another's company like sweethearts totally smitten with each other.  I look up and here comes my friend through the door.  Time to switch gears. 

Gail