You might love the above picture because it is a snow globe or because it has a snowman inside it. Others might love it because it has “joy” written on the base or because they have fond memories surrounding snow globes. I love it because my 6-year-old niece, Ellie (see picture below) gave it to me for Christmas. She was wiggling with excitement as she watched me open the gift she had wrapped! She excitedly pointed out that her middle name was written (Joy) on the bottom. This little snow globe now sits in my office where I can see it daily.
Ellie and Me
I realized that I view this snow globe as a treasure because of who gave it to me. It is important to me because of how much I love Ellie and the important role she plays in my life. She is my niece, but I also actively pursue a relationship with her. So, what is important to her is important to me.
So why write a blog about my snow globe? I started thinking about how the snow globe is only important to me because of my view of it. This got me thinking about how I view God. Is it the same as others or different? What experiences do I have with Him that have scuplted my view of Him? Am I actively pursuing a relationship with Him? Are the things that are important to Him important to me?
I came across Jeremiah 29:12-14a and it spoke to all of these rumblings in my heart and mind. “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord.” I need to call upon Him and take all of my views and perspectives to Him and see what is true and accurate, what I can press into, what needs to change, and how to more fully abide in Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says, “but test everything; hold fast what is good”.
Throughout all these musings, I realized that I hold God at arms length at times. I’m still unpacking the why of this (probably another blog post once I’ve sorted it all out :)). What I do know is that I want a more personal relationship with Him. A great book by Henry T. Blackaby, “Experiencing God”, has been helping me with this. The book has been challenging me to see God through different lenses and other tools for engaging with Him more personally. Blackaby continually points to Scripture and how the Lord reveals Himself.
As I walk this path, I pray that you find the snow globes that He has given you and treasure them! May you find the “good” and “seek [Him] with all your heart.” May you see the ways that He reveals himself to you!
Adventures of a Single Pretzel 