In the dog park is an evergreen with all its limbs growing on one side. It stands on a slope, reaching uphill with all its might. The other side is oddly bare and exposed. In this tree I saw myself, sometimes consumed by reaching for or protecting myself from one thing, while leaving another area of my life neglected and vulnerable. This dynamic only happens when I fail to trust God. In all things, especially uphill battles, God is my strength and stability.
At this time of my daily walks with God, I was working in a new environment. I enjoyed it but was surely fighting an uphill battle. I was completely new to the scene and received no direction. The same manager who addressed and guided other new workers completely ignored me. Meanwhile, animosity between managers constantly brewed in the studio like a sick soup. I asked questions of kind people, worked hard and made the very best of it.
If I had not been close to God each day, this bizarre environment would have disarmed me, but I chose to see it as an uplifting challenge. Instead of being distracted by the disfunction, I trusted God fully and rose to my own personal potential each day, while serving the company as best as I could. Depending on God as my source of strength and guidance, I am productive, calm and balanced.
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22
Meeting God at the Park 