Still Thought 6

Camped @ Kerith Creek.

This story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17 has had a profound impact on my own life. Here's Elijah, quite overwhelmed and burned out from constant conflict with the people of Israel, King Ahab, Jezibel, and prophets of Baal and how does God help him deal with the situation--He tells him to camp at Kerith Creek, a small brook in rocky, desert terrain.

In the midst of the storm, God calls him to retreat, "get out of the hot kitchen", park himself along side a stream in the desert, be quiet, don't worry about food, water or shelter, rest, soak up sun, just live day by day, etc. As Christians sometimes we feel that if we're not doing something, meeting a challenge head on or taking the "bull by the horns" we lack faith or power. Our modern day society and media reinforces this concept of quick fixes, instant remedies and self empowerment. It was quite the opposite in Elijah's case, by removing him from the situation, giving him a long rest from conflict, God was empowering him and building his reliance on Him. I once heard that Elijah suffered from anxiety, depression, stress and I can understand why, afterall he was human. To help him through this, God didn't give him a good pep talk or send in an army of angels, he simply put him beside a creek. How simple! How brilliant! How uncomplicatated! How freeing! How creative! How nice!

After 30 years of working in a fairly intense, stressful career I felt that God was calling me to take some creek time in my own life. He was asking or telling me to put aside my avid pursuit of financial security, achievement of personal and career goals and just live day to day, relying on Him to provide. How scarey! Last fall I resigned from a job I held for 20 years and for 2 months the Camino Trail in Spain became my brook Kerith. 800 km of meandering paths and roads, much of it through dry, dusty regions, along beautiful little creeks. How peaceful! How wonderful!

We didn't buy a guidebook with all the 4 star places to eat or stay. Instead we relied on God to provide for our needs with shelter and food each moment the along way. To help us acknowledge our dependence on God, we started each day by saying the Lord's prayer. Although at times, living moment to moment was somewhat unsettling for someone like me who likes to be in control, it was a wonderful way to go!

Now that we're back home, I still gravitate to a creek bed on my weekly walks with family and friends. Sometimes in the desert like conditions of our local terrain, we come across a little trickle of a stream surrounded by catus and sage and I just park myself for an hour or so....and think of Elijah camped @ Kerith creek.

Maybe at this time of your life, rather than saying "be strong", "fight on" or "accomplish more" God is saying "retreat", go to a quiet place for more than a moment or two, search out a Kerith creek for a day, week, month or even a season and just allow Him to provide for all your needs -- physically, emotionally and spiritually. Why not take the first step right now by spending a quiet moment with Lord and saying, "Lord, show me a Kerith creek and more importantly give me the faith and courage to go there". Listen to I am the Bread of Life in the worship music section.