Walking the path

An incident awakened a desire within me that still draws me even to this day. One afternoon in my freshman year of high school, I went to a downtown park. The park was possibly two blocks long on each side, with sidewalks, trees, and park benches. It was surrounded by municipal buildings, the main library, and a museum.

The library and museum were two of my favorite places. Instead of going to either, I sat down on a park bench. Slowly, at first, everything began to change. I saw beauty in the trees I had not noticed before. Birds were singing, which was unusually pleasant. There was a breeze that seemed to be the perfect strength and temperature. I could hear the noise of traffic from a street across the park, which could have been a background musical accompaniment for the birds. It seemed like the chaos of the city had been turned into a symphony. This was something more than peace or happiness; I knew what they were. Whatever this was, it didn’t change anything; it just changed how I felt about everything.

All in all, everything was rather wonderful. If I could have chosen any place to be or anything to do, I would have preferred to sit on that bench in that park. I didn’t want to move for fear it would stop.

School was out at 3:00 PM, and there was a family rule that all the kids had to be home by 5. An exception could be made if I called, but I would need a very good reason. Wanting to sit on a park bench would not qualify. As I stood up, everything suddenly became normal; what a disappointment.

I knew almost nothing about the things of the Lord and had no idea what to call what happened, but I wanted to experience it again. I returned to the park the following afternoon, but it was just an ordinary park with an ordinary bench. Whatever happened was obviously not in my control.

It happened again, although for only a few moments, a year later in my first encounter with the Lord while walking home from school. After that, it would be another five years before I experienced it again. I’ve discovered that the Lord does similar things with everyone, but like with me, they often go unnoticed.

Over the years, I’ve discovered that it tends to happen when I join the Lord in what he’s doing at a specific time and place. It usually occurs when the Lord sends me to help someone in particular who’s in trouble.

CS Lewis had similar experiences, which began when he was a child and his brother, Warnie, made a small garden in the lid of a biscuit tin (metal cookie box). He called the experience joy.

Things listed in scripture are not in random order unless they are equals. Joy is listed in the fruit of the spirit second only to love. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control draw us to the Lord, help us walk with him, and see the world more like he sees it.