My physical condition could be better. My doctor’s recommendations include 30 minutes of daily exercise and plenty of water. I have a stationary bike, so it is my primary go-to.
Not watching the timer on my phone is hard to do. So, this morning I tried something new. I closed my eyes and envisioned riding down a country road. The scenery (in my head, of course) was beautiful. Time indeed passed more quickly. I glanced to the side and saw Abba riding right beside me (I love envisioning God as father and friend.) He was really into the ride.
For those who know me well, visions like this happen every so often. I tend to pay more attention to the ones I had no preconceived notion of. This was one of them. It totally caught me off guard.
Not much was said. Just vigorous riding. Suddenly, our little Welsh Corgi, who sleeps in a covered crate at night, started whining, then barked, informing me that it was time to rise, hit the back yard, and have breakfast. I opened my eyes, disrupting the vision, and said, “Settle. Not yet.” He quieted down and I resumed the ride. Fortunately, the vision continued.
I glanced to the side at Abba, and he, with a half-cocked smile on his face, said in a calm voice, “I say that sometimes too.” I sighed and hung my head in silence. That was a zinger.
You see, my wife and I have a short list of things we would love to see happen. Some sooner than later. We know there are a few things that need to happen first, but our patience is waning. Yes, we need to exercise that patience.
It’s been a while since I heard such a clear message. The time is “not yet.” The encounter brought on a strange sense of peace. When I told my wife about the vision, she chuckled and said in acknowledgement, “Wow!”
Even though it was a zinger, and a bit of rebuke, I finished the ride with a smile and embraced the peace.
Settle: Abba is riding right next to us.
– Sam Augsburger
