Imagine being in a forest or at the bottom of a mountain with stepping stones everywhere, and you’re trying to choose a path to get to the summit. There are numerous ways to go, but you’re unsure which way is the best way because you can’t see where you are going. All you see are a bunch of stones. You’re frozen, kind of pondering how to find the right route.
Then one of the stones becomes more prominent. You step to it. You look again, and another seems like a natural progression. You step there. Slowly, stones begin revealing themselves, a pattern emerges, and you start seeing your way. You find yourself moving forward, not sure yet if it’s the right way to the summit, but at least you are proceeding.
A Path Emerges
Sometimes the day can feel a little monotonous. Wake up, drink coffee, watch the news, maybe walk or work out, feed the dog, the second cup of coffee, plan the day, run to the store or head out to work, yadda yadda yadda. (so you can infer what my days may be like at this stage in life :-).) Working, staying at home, or both, routines often bleed from one day into the next. We can easily move right through them, with time just slipping away.
Change. We want change. So we reach down into our souls and pray, what do You want me to do? I want more, but how do I move forward to more. Paralyzed in repeat behavior, unsure how to shift directions, we continue to follow the same path worn stones of our daily tread patterns. But, today’s playlist selection was a new stone for me.
The band for King and Country was on a program debuting a new song, “Relate.” The words caught my attention. I stopped, focused, watched the interview, and decided to look them up. They were coming in concert to a town near me. I bought tickets. I liked their music, it made me feel better, so I made a playlist. I started listening to Christian music again, turning off the stations that had dominated my time. I heard Casting Crowns, “Start Right Here” (playlist song #1), and the starting point for this adventure. Then I heard about the Jesus Music, saw it, was inspired and I began to realize my path was changing. My stepping stones through the day were not so scuffed and not in the typical pattern. They were new stones that I had not seen before. They were slowly rising to the surface and I was following them.
Life’s path often reveals itself one stone at a time, and we just need to step onto it. We must be willing to let go and trust the stones He is showing us.
The first line of Psalms: 16:11 reads: You will make known to me the path of life.
Relate was selected because it was a stepping stone to Ponder This and His ‘making it known to be a path for my life.’ To date, each move since has been one stone at a time, revealing itself. Sometimes I’m slow to step because I may not recognize it immediately, but then He shouts – “Hey Kim, step on that big stone, the only one in front of you. I can’t make it more evident.”
There is always a prominent stone in our life.
He speaks to us pretty directly if we listen. And the stones He shows us to follow are typically big, occupying our minds and hearts, always not far away, but we’re wary of them for whatever reason. Stones show a trail. We either choose to see it, follow it or overlook it altogether, which is often the case. So my ponder on Music Monday is simple: Are you following the same stones, or do you see a new stepping stone path and can you “Relate” to what I’m saying, can you?
I hope you like today’s playlist song. If you like what you read, please share and subscribe for full access. I’d also love for this to be an active community to ponder things together.
Until our next ponder, be safe, be aware and take the time to listen.
Kim K
Playlist To Date:
Lyrics and Song Here
RELATE
Song by for KING & COUNTRY
Lyrics
Has life hit you so hard that you've been knocked down?
Have you gone too far to find the middle ground?
Did they raise you so high just to pull you back down?
Have you been so lost you could never be found?
'Cause I've been real, I've been fake
Been a sinner, been a saint
I've been right, I've been so, so wrong
Yeah, I've made my mistakes
I don't know what it's like to be you
You don't know what it's like to be me
What if we're all the same in different kinds of ways?
Can you, can you relate?
We both know what it's like to be hurt
We both know what it's like to feel pain
But I think it's safe to say we're on to better days
Can you, can you relate?
Can you relate?
Have you ever been left when you should've been loved?
Has there ever been a time when you stayed but you should've run?
'Cause I've been real, I've been fake
Been a sinner, been a saint
I've been right, I've been so, so wrong
Yeah, I've made my mistakes
Now, I don't know what it's like to be you
You don't know what it's like to be me
What if we're all the same in different kinds of ways?
Can you, can you relate?
We both know what it's like to be hurt
We both know what it's like to feel pain
But I think it's safe to say we're on to better days
Can you, can you relate?
Can you relate?
Can you relate?
Can you relate?
I don't know what it's like to be you
You don't know what it's like to be me
But by the grace of God we'll see each other's heart
Can you, can you relate?
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Joel David Smallbone / Joshua Kerr / Luke Smallbone / Taylor Monet Parks
RELATE lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc
I agree with Babs, this was a great post. I think we all learned something from this.
- We need to ask God every day to direct our steps
- We need to envision where we want to be (set a goal), then make 6 month and 1 year goals to get there.
- Each week, we need to set aside some time to write down baby action steps to keep moving forward toward that goal, that next stone
- Each day make a schedule of what you want to accomplish and stick to it,, even if you have to get up early. (Keep moving forward even if that stone is only 6 inches away..)
- Help others get unstuck too (like Ponder this just did)
Thank you so much for this segment of Ponder This. It was right on track and gave me much to “ponder”. The stones really spoke to me so I have new paths to follow. Really enjoying your blog.