The Day I Was Benched

​We were so excited as a family to hit the slopes in Killington, VT for a three-day weekend of skiing and making amazing memories with our sons! Three hours into our carving down the slopes there was a break in the action…. literally. My husband’s bindings did not release and he suffered a break in his leg, not enough for surgery, but one that ended our skiing that weekend.
We were benched. I was benched and I didn’t even have an injury.
It’s interesting to me that now, over ten years later, I consider those three days of being benched in the condo, as pivotal in my walk with the Lord. Jesus deposited something so sweet into my spirit that weekend.

God will allow circumstances in our lives to produce a “break” in the action (sorry, bad pun) in order to get our attention. 

You see, I have always kept a busy calendar and honestly, I enjoy the fast pace of life. My personal time alone with Jesus has been a part of my routine and has been for decades. I really love to study and prepare teachings; I love to journal and pray. Slowing down has never come easily for me, especially in my time with Jesus. I spend more time “doing something” in my personal time rather than just “being” with Him.

He has known that about me and because of His love for me, Jesus allowed me to be benched.
In the quietness of that condo, on that snowy Saturday in February, Jesus met me in a profound way. With eyes closed and my heart open to hear His still small voice…I saw a bench…deep in the heart of a beautiful woods in the deep green of summer.

I could hear Him beckon me to come…to come and sit with Him for a while. I kept waiting for Jesus to say something, to say anything. I felt restless; surely we could discuss scripture or perhaps we should get up and walk a bit.
As much as I wanted to initiate conversation, I felt compelled to just wait for His lead. Occasionally He would glance at me and smile but nothing was said…at least verbally. His heart said it all. My whole being felt so loved and I was relaxing in His presence.
I began to hear other sounds: wind rustling in the trees, a small animal crunching dry leaves and birds…lots of different birds! I had not noticed any of this before.
It’s interesting, sometimes more is heard when less is said.
I really have no concept of how long we sat on that bench, but after a while, it really didn’t matter to me. I loved just being with Jesus.

Finally, Jesus whispered to me just one sentence that has profoundly changed me.
“Debbie, this… is our secret place. You must prioritize coming here regularly. There are things I will only share with you in the secret place because I will not compete with the busyness of your life.”

In Mark 6:31 Jesus told His disciples,
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Jesus continues to beckon me to come and sit with Him.  He beckons you too to come…alone with Him…with no agenda other than…
To just BE with Him.
The day I was benched…I found a treasure.