Why don't you take a journey with me to The Edge of the World?
A weather front making its way through the area brings spring-like warmth to a day early in December. There is something stirring deep inside your heart, brought on by the warm day, a longing… any hopeful romantic would be stirred on a day like this.
You decide to venture out into the woods on this remarkable day. There is a hunger in your heart for something you can’t quite identify, yet it is strong and very real. A lonely ache pierces you deeply, as you wish for a companion to share these moments with.
You whisper to the Lord, There is such a longing, such a hunger within me. Would you fill it, will you fill me with more than this world has to offer? It just doesn’t satisfy…
You grab a few books, your journal and some water and your backpack, toss it into the car and begin winding through the countryside. It doesn’t seem to matter where you end up, your hunger leads you on and you’ll know when you find the ideal spot to stop and ponder life and meditate on what this deep hunger is that you feel.
A sense of anticipation begins to build as the road twists and turns and begins more of an uphill climb into the mountains.
~ Can you sense it? Can you feel the longing growing? Cry out to your Abba, Father to help you be acutely aware of His presence and His ability to satisfy every longing, every hunger. ~
As the old country road winds downhill toward the river, leaves twirl around across the road ahead. ~ Oh Father, how I need you to be with me on this afternoon adventure. Please, join me, speak to me… ~
When you round the corner, before a bridge, you realize, this is where you’ve been longing to be so you pull off the road and park.
A trail to the left of the bridge leads down a steep rocky cliff to the Amicalola River and according to what you’ve heard, along the river about a mile to a beautiful place you’ve only heard about, but never experienced. It is called The Edge of the World.
Ah, a cool breeze blows your hair all around and you smile, glad to be here and knowing, somehow, the Lord, will meet you here. Could this stirring be a spiritual hunger, way beyond any hunger of this world?
Carefully you descend to the flowing waters, listening as the music of the river grows more intense and more beautiful, as it makes it way over rocks and boulders.
Other than the sound of the birds and the flowing water, you are alone, but for the presence of your Lord, for you sense Him near as a breath.
The path follows the sound of the cascading water. You bow as you go under boughs of Mountain Laurel and Rhododendron. You are acutely aware that your heart is beginning to bow in reverence in awe of the God of this beauty, as you follow the river’s path.
Suddenly, you feel the sensation of falling as you trip over a root and you hit the cool muddy ground. Hot, fiery pain shoots through your ankle and tears begin to flow down your cheeks. Panic begins to rise as you realize, you are utterly alone.
Trying to get up, you grab a nearby branch of a tree and pull, but it breaks under the pressure. You fall to the ground, with a rush of air being knocked out of you, you breathe a cry of help. Father, I know you are here with me, I’ve felt your presence as we’ve walked along the river. Please, help me, you are the only one here to help me!
Only the sound of wind and flowing water is heard as you sit on the cool ground and wait. You wince at the pain in your ankle, realizing that along with the throbbing in your ankle that it has begun to swell up almost twice its normal size.
Time passes slowly...shoulders drooping, yet trying to hope and trust, you realize you hear the sound of leaves crunching. Heart pounding, you turn and off in the distance you see a man headed in your direction, hair blowing in the breeze. Is that you Lord? He smiles and you recognize His smile, the kind way He looks at you with compassion… yes, it’s you, Lord! Oh, you are with me always, here to help me when I fall and I'm helpless on my own.
Jesus bends down, looks into your eyes and then leans in and gently holds you in a comforting embrace. He bandages your ankle and lifts you up into His arms and heads down the trail. Surprised, you realize He is headed further down the trail and not back out to the road. In His strong arms, you know you are safe though, so you rest, anticipating where He is taking you. Bowing low under more Laurel branches and then up a steep hill, then back down, you emerge by the river. He takes you out across the boulders in the river and gently places you on a smooth rock right by the rapids, where the river rushes by. This is the Edge of the World!
The powerful rapids roar and splash and such joy begins to fill your soul as you experience this amazing, exhilarating place with your lover, Jesus at your side.
~ What does He say to you? What do you sense during these moments? ~
Time slows as you savor the moments of peace as you rest with your Lord, at the Edge of the World. The river tumbles and splashes over the rapids. The hunger you were feeling begins to be satisfied as you rest in the arms of your Lord and watch the river flow by. The longing and deep ache is soothed as sounds of the rushing river wash over your soul.
You can go to the "edge of the world" and know that your God will meet you there. Only He is able to fully satisfy all your hunger and longings.
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© 2005 Marie Nease
