Coffee Prayers and Perspective

Last full day of vacation. It has been a really good week. Waking up to a cup of coffee and the view of the mountains...does it get better than this? To help slow myself down, I've been doing "coffee prayers." All too often I pray for a moment and then jump straight into my Bible study. This week, I have used my first cup of coffee as a prayer time. I'm not done praying, until I'm done sipping. It really has helped elongate my time with the Lord in prayer. 

This morning during my coffee prayer, the mountains were covered with clouds.  The rain was drizzling. 

In that moment it stuck me that I have never paid attention to the clouds from this perspective before. Most the time I am looking up at the morning clouds hoping that the sun is back there somewhere about to burn them up and open up the sky. Today I was eye level with the clouds. Staying at 10,000 feet changes the way I hoped for the clouds to fade away and the sun to appear. 

I could see the sun go to work. No, I couldn't see the sun, but with every passing moment I watched more and more of the town below appear. From the ground, it is hard to know that the sun is at work. We look up and we see consistent cloud cover, but from Elevation, it is easy to see all the work that is being done.

In this moment (it takes much longer to write than it did to see) I began to pray. I want to see life from the Lord's perspective. I want to endure the clouds with a certainty that the dreariness of the moment WILL NOT LAST. I want to lead with the confidence of being "sure of what I hope for and certain of what I cannot see."

To be a husband that doesn't get defeated when he has a disagreement with his wife, a dad who doesn't get swept up in the moment of my child's accomplishments or failures, a friend who holds at bay a quip when nerves run thin, a pastor who can see beyond the moment to what lies ahead. All of these things are so tough from sea level. You know, that shallow part of your faith that prays quickly and spends a 1 minute devotional with God. I want to live a faith at 10,000 feet! Giving generously, loving freely, trusting fully and believing whole-heartedly. 

The air is thin up here. My body tells me that life is easier at sea level, but my faith reminds me that  the life I was made for is in the heavens, not below.