Dance steps that "kiss the earth"

Someone that Ann Voskamp knows has been reading Living Buddha, Living Christ, by Thich Nhat Hanh. This someone said to Ann that "you should wallk through life as though your feet are kissing the earth." The only reason I know it came from Thich Nhat Hanh is because it was on Farrell Mason's summer reading list. And, her blog post about it opened my eyes to see that it is about living in the NOW.

Walking through this life, living this daily life as though our feet kiss the earth is about

• keeping our inner focus on God
• being attentive to His Presence in the world around us
• being aware of His Providence in the people and place of our NOW
• holding these people and place lightly in our hands before Him
• being mindful of His grace given to us in them
• offering thanksgiving ... and praise.

David certainly knew about living this way.

His daily living was taking care of the family flocks, living in the out-of-doors witnessing all kinds of beauty and danger. In that daily living he recognizes the LORD's relationship to him as his Shepherd ... who makes him lie down in green pastures, leads him beside quiet waters, restores his soul; who leads him in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake, is with him always, gently comforts him with His rod and staff; who abundantly blesses him providing for every need ... indeed, his life overflows with God's blessing, his heart overflows for God's goodness and mercy follow him all the days of his living. (Psalm 23)

At another time though enemies and troubles encamp all around him David says, "One thing I have asked of the Lord; one this I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the fair beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple." And, later, "You have said, 'Seek my face.', my heart says to you, 'Your face Lord will I seek." (Psalm 27.4, 8)

David walked through life as though his feet kissed the earth. As a friend of God, a man after God's own heart, his inner focus was on the Lord ... His Shepherd, His Savior, His Comforter, His Provider - to behold His fair beauty, to seek His face in worship ... to see God. Maybe that's how David could write such songs ... such very honest and vulnerabe songs ... to the Lord. David's inner focus was on God, attentive to His Presence in the world around him, aware of His Providence in the people in his life and where he was - his place. And, David did not hold on to the things of earth ... whether of beauty or of danger, but saw them as God's grace and offered them to the Lord in psalm, in worship ... always giving thanks. I venture to say it took a lifetime of practice ... even for David ... this living life as though our feet kiss the earth.

The Hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing came to mind this morning and its words express a prayer for living life as though our feet kiss the earth. This link is to Church of the Apostles Laudamus recording. After you link to the site, click on the hymn to listen ... it's in the upper right hand of the page. 

Church of the Apostles, Laudamus: Come Thou Fount