(Original post 3/6/2020 ~ Updated on 2/25/21)

Life is often compared to a journey – it’s one of my favorite metaphors actually. In any lifetime there are adventures and dangers, triumphs and tragedies, the glorious and the mundane, times of hard work and much needed rest….

This was where my thoughts took me as I stood at the edge of the Dead Sea.

There’s not another place on earth like it. There’s an eerie, stark beauty that’s captivating and, much like other large bodies of water, it draws you to the edge and seems to invite you to relax and stay awhile. But before you even get to the water’s edge you feel and hear the crunch of salty “sand” underfoot. It feels like walking across snow that’s hardened to ice and the whole beach looks more like an icescape than a shoreline. It was so beautiful but there was also an emptiness to it that I couldn’t quite find words for until I was journaling later that evening (and here comes the metaphor!)

The Dead Sea is a beautiful place to look at and experience, but it’s not a place to build a home and put down roots, because there’s no life there….there is nothing coming from this sea that can sustain life. In fact, the briny water is actually harmful to your skin, eyes and lungs if not handled extremely carefully.

The Dead Sea is beautiful!

And it can also be dangerous.

There are so many places that call to us to experience pleasure and soak up beauty, but there’s also a need for discernment and wisdom in those places. Many of the things we do for enjoyment – often good things by themselves – can turn toxic if we let ourselves get lured by the promise of lasting satisfaction and peace. Sometimes a good Netflix binge is just what my tired mind needs, but it can also become a tempting place to hide from things that seem too big or overwhelming. There are lots and lots of restful places of retreat….but if we’re not careful we can get lost….or even snagged, and we realize that’s what’s missing is life – the true life that comes from freedom in Christ.

I guess what I’m trying to say is….let’s keep moving! Life truly is a journey. Jesus knew that and demonstrated a balance of work and rest. So….run when you can, rest when you need to, walk with others and spend time alone with God. There are beautiful places of rest that God places in our path because He knows we need them, but we’re not meant to build a metaphorical home and stay there. And believe me, I am fully aware of the irony of these words coming from one who has made a home in the shadows of grief. But God….this God of ours….He isn’t content to leave us a moment longer than we need to in hard places, and I do believe my faith is finding new life.

I think there’s a bend in the road up ahead and I’m ready to see where it leads. =)

Bless you as we journey together!

Shellie ♥

Faith

Jordan Feliz