Taking time away is not easy. You need to find someone to fill in for you at work, take care of the kids, and make arrangements for numerous things in your absence. Sometimes it’s easier to just stay home. Fortunately, I have recently been able to take a few days to refresh and renew my spirit.
One of the things I enjoy the most in Sacramento, New Mexico is the beauty of the mountain. Taking a hike to the peak where a cross overlooks the camp is always a highlight of my time, but the other thing that never gets old is seeing the deer. Not just one or two, but dozens at a time.
When you are close, sometimes they will run away, but more often they will perk their heads up and stare at you, waiting for you to put more distance between yourself and their herd. There is something regal and breathtaking about these animals. They have an amazing innocence as they stand and watch, protecting their young.
Psalm 42:1 reads, “Just like a deer that craves streams of water, my whole being craves you, God.” As I walked by this beautiful herd of mama deer with their babies, I felt a connection unlike any other. The way they crave streams of water and green grass is how I crave a deeper connection with my God. I am in the mountains, surrounded by beauty with every step I continue to search for a deeper connection.
I am grateful to have spent some uninterrupted time surrounded by God’s beauty. My hope is that I take this feeling away as I leave the mountain and hold on to my desire to be closer to God.
The deer craves water and I crave living waters.