the hill
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"I walked out to the hill just now. It is exalting, delicious. To stand embraced by the shadows of a friendly tree with the wind tugging at your coat-tails and the heavens hailing your heart - to gaze and glory and to give oneself again to God, what more could a man ask? Oh, the fullness, pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on earth. I care not if I ever raise my voice again for Him, in only I may love Him, please Him. Mayhap in percy He shall give me a host of children that I may lead through the vast star fields, to explore His delicacies, whose finger-ends set them to burning. But if not, if only I may see Him, touch His garments, and smile into my Lover's eyes - ah, then, not stars, nor children shall matter - only Himself." - Jim Elliot
This is one of my favorite quotes by Jim Elliot. He definitely writes in the language of my soul. This particular portion expresses the desire of my heart today so well. I want to be so enthralled with Jesus that nothing else matters - not photography, not music, not what I do in life, nothing but Him. I want to taste what heaven will be like on earth. I want to know Him in as much fullness as I can here. I read this morning that "He satisfies the desire of every living thing." He is great enough, big enough, wonderful enough and desirable enough to quench the hunger in every soul. He is the essence of every good attribute I can imagine. He is exciting, dangerous, exquisite, and perfect. To be in His presence is to be set on fire. To surrender to Him is a joy. To love Him is to filled to the brim, overflowing. Loving Him creates more capacity for love, for He is love. To know Him is to experience the greatest pleasure in all eternity. To encounter Him is to be forever and irrevocably changed.
Why then do I fill my heart will such small, fleeting pleasures when the ultimate satisfaction is in my grasp? Why do I settle for mediocre when I can have the unsurpassable? I need to remember to come to the hill, lay in grass and let my heart be filled with glory until I see more of Him than before. I want to yearn for it daily. What else could possibly matter more?
