Mudpies or Sandcastles (ps I totally failed the 31 day writing challenge) 

I used to love love love to make mud pies outside with my sister when I was a kid.  We had the best time in our backyard.  All we needed was some dirt, some plastic pretend kitchen supplies, water if we were REALLY lucky and mudpie making would commence.

This was before the food network (I mean really what in the world did we watch before I got to watch awesome chef’s make food I will probably never make.  I don’t even have a tv, but I have the internet– and in my heart I can whip up a cupcake like on cupcake wars with the best of them) .  We made 5 and 6 course mud pie meals.  

The thing is though– those mudpies, NOT tasty. Not filling. Not something you wanted to eat and if you did you would not be satisfied.  And well if you are eating dirt you probably have some sort of vitamin deficiency or something.

So when the choice was to come inside and eat the yummy always tasty dinner my momma was cooking– or to stay outside as the sunset and chow down on mudpies, inside was always my choice.  And don’t worry my momma always had us wash our hands.

Friends, tonight– sitting around a fire at our church prayer meeting night we were practicing listening prayer, where we are supposed to sit before the Lord, and listen. Listen for Him to speak to our often to busy and loud hearts. To quiet our souls and hear Him.  And I kept hearing the snippets in my heart of a quote that I was not even sure existed.  So I googled it and found this C.S. Lewis quote– ” who wants to go on making mudpies in the slum because He cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of the holiday at the sea.”  

God reminded me lately i have been to busy playing in the mudpies to enjoy the holiday at the sea.
Your mudpie may look different then mine. Mine include things like:  feeling my worth in Christ is based on my WORK for Christ, wanting man’s approval more then God’s, fearing swimming into the ocean of God’s dreams so wanting to stay in the safe puddle of same.

Mudpies. are. Not. Created. To. Satisfy.
I put periods there to remind to pause and really take that in.

Psalms 63:5 My soul will be satisfied as with rich and fat food.
Jenn translation– as like eating a yummy delightfully slightly pink in the middle steak and thick salty french fried potatoes.

Recently I got to take a vacation at the beach with friends.
It was my holiday at the sea.  These words describe some of the ways i felt there:  safe, known, like my story mattered, at peace in deepest places, beautiful, surrounded by beauty, soaking, relaxed, free, breathing deeply, at rest.

I have been in some slums in the poorest places in India and  in Nepal. These are words I felt there (or felt others felt there) :  trapped, stuck, fear, dirty, alone, desperation, shamed, numb, hungry, empty, like everyone is a potential enemy.

Psalms 31:8 You have set my feet into a broad place.
31:19 how abundant is your goodness which you have stored up for those who fear you and those who take refuge in you.

I get to take refuge in the free, broad deep all consuming love of Christ.
I get to breath, play, laugh, feel safe, known, like my story matters, at peace in the deepest places, surrounded by beauty, relaxed, rested and free in the love of Christ– that’s my holiday at the sea.

I don’t know about you but I want my five course meal versus my muddy cake of dirt.