School had just started back and in the quiet of the house I reached for a simple lunch made complete with a piece of fruit. Rather than reaching for a more typical apple, I opted for the last peach in the bowl.
After just one bite, I was mesmerized. I’ve eaten a number of peaches in my life, but this experience was different. The treat offered the most delightful amount of ripeness and the taste was remarkable. It was a delicious dessert, but so much more all at once. In one moment, my senses were alive.
In this new school year, it is easy to fall back into the habits of busyness. Schedules, workloads, paperwork, water bottles, snacks, car lines, practices and all the things can become front and center – if we let them. Each of these are good things, but we can be challenged not to let them become the things that dictate our lives.
As with a new calendar year, August can be a great time to evaluate, or perhaps re-evaluate, our schedules, priorities, and even our values. If my value is to be more present for my family, that may mean that other activities are rescheduled or re-imagined in order to allow me to show up as the person I want to be.
I want to bite into the peach and enjoy the whole experience.
John 10:10 (NIV) states, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I’ve come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Who is the “thief” in our lives when it comes to how we spend our time? For some of us it may be our digital lives that ensnare us in a trap of comparison or loneliness, for others a hustle mentality that leaves little time for just being, sensing, and/or connecting.
Let me clarify: I don’t know if it is really possible to be actively engaged and fully aware in every moment of life. The brain is complex and our calendars are, too. But, what if we made a deliberate point of truly savoring more of the everyday pleasures like a great meal, a joyful fellowship opportunity, or watching nature’s creatures in actions? How can we bless others more fully if we are more full?
How can we sense God’s presence and intention for our lives in each of these moments? It is my prayer that we have peach-like moments in the remainder of 2023 and beyond – moments that refresh us, revitalize us, and remind us of the fullness God wants for us and those around us on this side of heaven.
Rooted in Grace and Grit 