Ever want to go climb a tree?

Every spring our kids, especially Emily, start climbing trees. It's kind of like one of those signs of spring that you look for, right up there with birds chirping and insects buzzing.

Our kids all take after me when it comes to climbing - they are monkeys! I remember as a boy climbing so high into trees that the branches supporting my weight (all 95 lbs.) actually started to bend and sway. And it was there, at the very top of the tree, that I would settle in and enjoy the view. There was something very peaceful and enlightening about being up that high looking down at my surroundings. All of those things that looked so big and intimidating just a few minutes before (the cars, the houses, my big brother) now seemed so small, so manageable...

Well, I don't make a habit of climbing trees these days, but I do try to gain a fresh perspective every now and again. Lately the perspective that I have had on life has been one that's a little more relaxed, a little less demanding. I'm not entirely sure why, but my stress level has come down a bit and I have slowed down - it actually feels like things have slowed down around me, like everything is moving at a decreased pace.

Why the change? Not sure really. The Bible speaks about a Sabbath rest for God's people, and warns us not to miss out on it. Maybe I am experiencing a taste of this of late... Whatever the reason, I am praying that God continues to bless me with a slower pace. I pray that all of the time I have spent over the past month playing catch with the kids, watching ball games, and tinkering around the house (not accomplishing anything in particular) becomes part of who I am.