While
looking for a photo on my husband’s phone, I found these pictures and remembered
her saying,
“Mimi,
come swing with me.”
And
so, for a few minutes, I put aside grown up ways, and we pumped and pushed,
flying higher and higher―back to the ground, face to the sky.
Bliss.
I
wondered how long it had been since I stared straight up into the tree canopy
to fall leaves quivering on the limb and me lighter than air, forgetting all
about that big bundle I’d been carrying.
When
we finally stopped, I recognized those few minutes with my feet off the ground
provided a divine interruption to my diligent burden carrying.
Where
was that bundle, now, anyway? Perhaps tossed aside as the arcing swing
delivered me into God’s grace and rest.
Maybe it wasn’t just that sweet girl asking me to swing with her. Perhaps God himself was saying, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Oh, to live free and light, learning those unforced rhythms of grace.
Every day.
My hands are on the ropes, my rear is in the seat, and I’m poised, just about to push off again, letting it all fly.
Join me, won’t you?