Awakening

 
I was walking along an esplanade a few days ago. Along the path, I noticed a piece of jewelry had lodged itself into a gap formed between the large tiles. It was hidden from view unless you were standing right above it. Just across from me, on the same stretch, there was a lady in a sort of panic. She was looking for something. Being the kindhearted mathematician I am, I put two and two together and suggested to the lady I may have found what she was looking for. As she was presented with the lost item, she erupted into great elation. For the sake of the story, I’m going to say she started to cry.
Isn’t it remarkable when you go looking for something and find it?
Later, I pondered this whole experience. We’d both found the same thing, but it meant the world to her, whereas for me it was just a piece of shinny-coolness.  If the lady wasn’t there, searching so fervently, I’d have been able to keep the ring, but unbeknownst to me, I had failed to recognize what it is that I found. In six months time, I'd have lost the ring in my sock draw and possibly not even realised I didn't have it anymore.
 My interpretation of the object is that it just happened to be there and so did I. Her interpretation is that she needed to find and reclaim something which was precious to her, she went looking and there is was, now it will be with her forever.
Ask anyone, Awakening was incredible; this would be the general consensus of any participant. But watch what happens over time- you’ll be able to separate those who happened to be there and stumbled across something shinney from those who went looking and found. The exhilaration will dissipate, leaving only the core element of what was truly discovered.
Some will build their lives slowly and steadily simply by being faithful and turning up, and that’s just grand. While others are radically changed because they came hoping and hungry; their existence will never be the same because they realized that they were going to find God and become aware of his truth, his love, his will and his plan. That’s extraordinary.
The exemplary truths of God I learned over Awakening have unquestionably altered the progression of my live forever. The joy I found, the burden I picked up and God-given breaking of my heart have redirected my path.
The value of  experience, teaching and presence is established by way of intention.
Think of Awakening 2010 as the esplanade. Choose to be the lady fervently searching for her prize and feel the joy of the Lord as you find what it is you’ve been looking for, waiting for and expecting. God will be there, no doubt.
Just be ready.
jf. x
 "Seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29
 "In their distress they turned to the LORD God, and they sought Him, and He let them find Him"  2 Chronicles 15:4
 “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:13