It’s May but still cold here.  My potted geraniums survived the winter by staying put in front of our family room’s south-facing windows.  Now it’s time to harden them off, expose them to the sun and outside warmth.  When the temperature drops at the end of each day, I carry each one into the garage for protection.  I’ve been carrying for a week now, waiting for temperatures that don’t dip below fifty.  That’ll be awhile around here.  In the meantime, I carry.  One by one.  Into the sun.  Into the garage.  I carry.

I think about how I carry myself, by my own will, into the presence of God.  And then, my proned-to-wander heart carries me away.  I do the carrying.  One by one.  Thought by thought.  Word by word.  Action by action.  I get carried away from my True Life, my supply of all I could ever want and need.  I harden myself off and hide in the shadows, believing the lie I’ve gone too far, become too cold.

Thank you, my God, for staying Faithful and True.  Thank you, my God, for forgiving my wandering.  Thank you, my God, for your mercies new every morning. 

Oh my soul, stay in the light of your Maker’s presence!  Oh my heart, soak!  In due time, you will bloom full in the warmth of His love!

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts . . .

Psalm 95:6-7