Being Open
I am married to a duck hunter. When we married 23 years ago, he was not a duck hunter. Today he is. His friends took him hunting in 2015 and he was open to the new experience. To say that he enjoyed it is an understatement. This guy dove in like a duck and has not stopped flying since. Since that first duck hunt many years ago, Amazon Prime has delivered much needed “supplies” for the hunts. Our garage is filled up with duck decoys, duck calls, duck decoys, duck blinds, duck decoys and a lot of camo things. It looks like a duck hunting supply warehouse.
On a few mornings, since 2015, I have been on duck hunting dates with my guy. I was open to this new date experience. At five o’clock we rise, he makes coffee and we go duck hunting. (Actually, I hang out in the truck and he hunts.) From the truck, I have had the privilege of watching the sunrise. Each morning it is breath taking. Each morning it is different. Each morning it is a new experience.
Duck hunting has given my guy a hobby…a much-needed hobby. Going hunting has pulled me out of my normal morning routine and shown me a beautiful new day, every day.
We are called to being open. Just as every sunrise is different, every year is different. We cannot anticipate or know what lies ahead. There is no need for anxiety or fear because God travels with us.
There are many things where we know about what is before us. We know that each day will begin with a sunrise and end with a sunset. Each day God will be co-creating with us to show the world how to love one another. If we are willing to being open to something new, our breath will be taken away and we will discover new experiences.
What new experiences are you open to this year? What is God asking you to leave behind so that you can live with an attitude of being open?
For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a road through the wilderness of the world for my people to go home, and create rivers for them in the desert! Isaiah 43:19
Join us every Thursday as we explore practices that connect us with our Creator God. God’s greatest desire is to BE with us. Spiritual practices keep us in the flow of the Holy Spirit and God’s presence. We are thrilled you are here and @Practice with us. This simple moment can be a retreat from daily life and a space for you to BE with God in your every day activities.
Meredith and Steven Bell share many things in common and share many differences. They met 24 years ago in Dallas, Texas while studying theology. With each having a science degree already, they both decided a theology degree was the next right step. For the past 24 years, they have served communities in ministry together in a number of different ways. The relationships they have built along the way with friends, colleagues and churches is a blessing to their lives. The biggest blessing is being parents to two amazing young women. From diapers to driver’s licenses, they have parented, laughed, sacrificed, loved, prayed, cried, and grown together. Their differences simply make life interesting. Growing up in different states, listening to different music, enjoying different hobbies and just seeing the world around them differently keeps conversations lively! You can find Steven at First Methodist Church of Shreveport most days unless he is looking for waterfowl with his dog, Sam. You can find Meredith writing grants for non-profits and coaching people in ministry. More than anything, you can find the Bells living grateful lives. We are grateful to live in Shreveport and even more grateful to join with others to spread hope, love, and faith in the community!