Scooters. Cars. Trucks. Industry. The pollution in the tiny country of Taiwan can be overpowering at times! It isn't uncommon to see scooter drivers wearing cloth masks over their nose and mouth in an attempt to filter out some of the fumes pouring out of vehicles and smoke stacks.
I was really blessed this past weekend to take a day trip up to the mountians with the McGills (the Morrison superintendent and his wife) and a few of the other new teachers. I'll be honest, I wasn't that excited about traveling up the mountian as 5:45 AM on Saturday morning when my alarm clock woke me up to get ready to go! But I dragged myself out of bed, knowing they were expecting me. Our trip had several legs. First, Christina (my teaching partner) and I took a 30 minute taxi ride to the High Speed Rail Station. Then, we boarded the HSR and zoomed at breakneck speed for another 30 minutes to the city of TaiChung. We left the train station by van with the McGills and headed out of the city toward the mountians. After twisting and turning on the steep and narrow mountian roads for an hour and a half, we had arrived at Sun Moon Lake. Steping out of the van I had to remind myself that I was still in Taiwan! The crowded streets were replaced with lush tropical vegetation. Instead of the noise of horns and engines and thousands of people living on top of one another, we heard the chirp of birds, the quiet laping of small waves on the shore, and the rustle of leaves as raindrops pattered down gently. I had almost forgotten that life could feel so peaceful! As we traveled further up the mountian, the air grew cleaner with each mile. Upon reaching the top we were greeted not only by some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever viewed, but also a glorious cool breeze! The humidity, heat, commotion, and clatter was miles away from where we were.
Isn't it just like God to bring me out of the pollution and noise of daily life in order to renew me! And isn't it just like me to kick and scream the whole way, not knowing a good thing when it is knocking at my door! As I stood there drinking in the cool clean air, I was struck that each day God wants me to take a trip up the mountian to be with him. In his presence the "noise and dirt" of life seem far away. The clatter is replaced by his peace. How often I miss out on the refreshment of a trip up the mountian with God. The things down in the valley seem so important, but God longs for us to pull ourselves away and follow him up the mountian each day as we spend time in prayer and in his word. He knows we need refreshment from the heat, the noise, the fumes of life! I hope this week we will all take God up on his offer of a trip up the mountian! If we are willing, God will make the trip worth the effort!!
1 comment:
This story is such a great reminder to just LET GOD...! I have such a hard time doing that. Letting God take over is not one of my strong points. I also kick, scream, and put up a fuss when God is trying to work on me. Sometimes I become consumed with looking for evidence of God's presence in my daily life, and then feel depressed if I don't find it or feel it. Maybe God feels the same about me. Maybe God is looking for evidence of me in His daily life.
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