PAUSE AND PONDER by Gini Walker
Two of my favorite words these days are PAUSE and PONDER. Although favorites with me, these concepts are probably not appreciated in our fast speed, multi-task, high tech, and ever-changing world. These involve a slowing down process and a dig deeper and deeper thinking. Sometimes the “I’ve heard it all” and “I’ve seen it all” attitudes push us to move on and not dwell on the thought-provoking sights and sounds. Yet, I doubt that any city dweller having an opportunity to stand in a desert at midnight, far away from any lights, could look up in the sky bursting with stars and be eager to leave such a sight. That happened to me about 58 years ago. I still carry the memory of that phenomenon that causes me to ponder again and again about the awesome creative power of God. Did David, the shepherd boy, see what I saw? Probably. As I now pause and ponder him as a shepherd, these thoughts carry me to the 23rd Psalm. This beloved Psalm has comforted many mourners. It has encouraged many wayfaring strangers in this world filled with “valleys of death’s shadows”. It has raised hope of Heaven’s beckoning. In these pandemic days, it may be the evening prayer spoken by moms and dads over their children. As a young shepherd boy, David cared for his sheep. Even more, Jesus, my
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Shepherd Lord, cares for me. I need to pause and consider the green pastures, still water, His perfect guidance as I am comforted by His shepherd tools, His presence in the valleys, and His provisions even in the midst of evil. As I am learning to pause and ponder, my appreciation for a particular verse or passage in scripture is being enhanced. I tried it (P and P) on Ephesians 3:20 (New International Version) “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” I spent several hours with all the individual words and phrases like IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE. After this experience, I was left once more with a sense of awe and wonder about the God I worship. Immeasurably more? Than all? I can ask or imagine? Nothing left uncovered here. Nothing left to chance. Here is that same verse in the New Living Translation: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” And, finally this amazing verse in the New American Standard Version: “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”
