Dennis Edwards
My wife and I have been a three week holiday to rest,
refill, and enjoy God and His creation. We stayed with her sister and we got to
minister to my wife’s extended family who live in that beautiful island called
Tenerife.
On one of our first days, my sister-in-law, who knows I like
walking, organized an outing that would include a beautiful mountain walk.
First we enjoyed a light meal at a mountain top café/restaurant. When we
finished she pointed and said, “Just follow that path, always downward. Stay on
the main path, don’t get off, not to the right nor to the left. Stay on the
main path. We will meet you at the end.”
Off they went: my wife, her sister, and her sister’s two and
a half year old grandson. Off I went, also, forward along the pavement beside
the restaurant. After thirty meters the pavement ran out and I started my
descent down a beautiful but sometimes steep mountain path. That particular
area of Tenerife has a lush forest due to the regular midst from the sea that
drops around three inches of moisture every day. I will include some photos for
you to enjoy.
My walk along that mountain path was one of the highlights
of my vacation. As I started my descent, I realized that the path was sometimes
slippery from moisture. I needed a walking stick to steady my way. “Lord, I
need a walking staff.” No sooner had the thought went through my mind and there
it was, an old branch not far from the path. I broke off a bit and it proved
just right for my needs.
I rejoiced at how the Lord had answered my prayer so
quickly, like that verse, “Before You call, I will answer.” I laughed to myself
and thanked the Lord. How wonderful and easier it was to make progress now with
my new found staff. “Lord, this staff is great, but You know, I could really
use another one for my other hand.” And bingo, there it was again, another
walking stick just right for what I needed.
My sister-in-law had told me the path was around 1,7
kilometers. I usually walk around 5 kilometers an hour. 1,7 km shouldn’t take
me more than half an hour. I was disappointed with the thought of such a short
walk. The fact that the path was at times down a difficult stone cut path
caused me to take 1 hour and 50 minutes. It may have also been that I stopped
at times to take pictures and enjoy the majestic views. (One such view from the
mountain path.)
)
During that extended time alone on that mountain path, I had
a beautiful time with the Lord. What helped facilitate listening to the Lord
was the absolute total silence, a complete silence. Not a sound could be heard
in the middle of the forest on that mountain path. Nothing! No cars, no planes,
no voices, no construction work, no tractors, no music, no television, no radio,
not even the chirping of sparrows or the whistling of the wind. Nothing! It was
dead silence.
Occassionly a partidge or pigeon would hear me coming and
startled, would suddenly fly off from her nest breaking through the silence.
Otherwise, I had entered in the land of total quietness. I could understand why
so often God’s men sought refuge and God’s presence in the mountain. Even Jesus
arose early before it was yet day to seek God in prayer on a mountain. Moses
talked with God on a mountain. Elijah took refuge on a mountain. Jacob dreamed
of a ladder descending from Heaven on a mountain. Abraham heard God’s voice
clearly on a mountain, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad.”
As I walked, I talked to the Lord and He responded so
wonderfully. His voice was so clear in my mind. “Should I take that mission
trip to that country? Should I take one also to that country? Should I visit my
grandchildren in that other country?” Each time the Lord confirmed with, “Yes.”
The Lord gave a green light to all that I asked. In the silence His voice came
booming through. I was ecstatic. I entered into praise to His name. His
response and the clearness of His voice encouraged my soul. (I was going to
Taborno a little further yet.)
“Lord, I’m sorry. I know I need to spend more quality time
“listening” to Thy sweet, soft voice. Please forgive me. Renew in me that
desire to love you and spend time with you intimately daily.”
(Looking back at the path as it exits from the thick mountain vegetation.)
I had been used to getting the Lord to okay my plans, but
not really seeking Him for His plans. Hearing His voice of encouragement so
clearly brought to mind the verse from Jeremiah. “For I know the thoughts that
I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give
you hope in the latter end.”[Jeremiah 29:11] “Thank you, Lord. That’s what I
need, hope as I face or enter into the beginning of old age, hope for the
future, that You will supply our needs and take care of us during these
seemingly difficult days. Thank you, Lord, for hope.”
(One of the views near the end of the mountain path not far
from where my wife was waiting for me.)
After three weeks relaxing, resting, taking ample quiet time
of reading, prayer, and listening to the Lord, it was time to head back to our
usually ministry. My sister-in-law noted, “You needed two weeks just to slow
down and get rid of all the stress you were carrying. Now that you’re finally
relaxed and enjoying yourselves, you’ve got to go. Next time you should
schedule a month, not three weeks. And remember to rest and enjoy yourselves
more regularly and take better care of my sister.”
(The little village where my wife and my siter-in-law waited
for me at the end of the mountain path.)
Coming back home, I saw that my workmates seemed more
relaxed, rested, and less stress faced on our return. In my absence they had
been able to relax. My friend João before I left had said to me, “Dennis, maybe
you don’t think you have time to stop and rest, but God is making you take a
rest for my sake.”
Please don’t make a god of God’s service. Take the time you
need for God, for your loved ones, for your physical and emotional needs, and
for those of your family, friends, and workers. The work is important, but the
worker, you, your wife, your workmates are more important. We all need time of
rest, relaxation in order to strengthen our relationship with the Lord and each
other. Put God first by taking the time you need to rest and relax and to let
others to do the same.
View towards La Laguna. You can see Teide the highest mountain in Spain in the far distance.
“For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased
from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labour therefore to enter into
that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”[Hebrews
4:10-11]
One of the natural swimming pools on the north side of the island where we were able to relax.
The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. Psalm 145:9
