Yesterday started as one of those fairly mundane Saturdays that unexpectedly turned into a day I will always remember. It's funny how an ordinary day can be transformed in an instant. When unplanned things happen and suddenly your day has transformed into something altogether different that you anticipated.
That is exactly what happened yesterday.
It's July in Texas and we have a garden. That normally means getting to those garden chores on Saturday mornings before the heat index reaches "swim in your sweat" level. So, after coffee and breakfast we headed to the garden to clean up, weed and pick produce before the worst heat of the day settled upon us.
I began by picking peas and tomatoes and cleaning up the mess the squirrels had made. Plants were drying up from the heat and drought and I was examining the cucumber vine, trying to decide whether it was a goner or not, when out of nowhere a red wasp dropped down on my arm like a blowtorch.
The pain was instantaneous and sharp. I jumped up and down like an Indian doing a war dance and headed over to get help from my husband who must have thought I was crazy as I danced around waving my good arm at him. He couldn't hear my yelling over the tractor and his iPod, so the crazy dancing was definitely necessary to get his attention.
Bruce jumped on the golf cart with me and raced me to the house where he put a soothing paste of baking soda on the sting. It did help the burn, but it was still very painful. But, not liking anyone to think I'm not tough, back off to the garden we went.
I had the nagging feeling that maybe I wasn't supposed to be in the garden that day. As I continued cleanup - at the farthest point from the cucumbers as possible - something bit my leg. Examining the area I couldn't see anything, but it was itching and uncomfortable. Within a minute it began to swell and the itching grew intense. "God", I said, "are you trying to tell me to get out of the garden? Is there a snake around here and are you trying to keep me from getting bit? Or, am I just looking for an excuse to get out of this hot work?"
After a few minutes of feeling like I was supposed to leave the garden I walked over and told Bruce I was taking the kayak out for a short while. I'm not sure how pleased he was to learn that while he continued working, I would be leisurely paddling around the lake, but he tried not to make me feel too guilty (only because I had been wounded by the aforementioned devil wasp).
After changing clothes, filling an insulated jug with ice water, and loading and unloading the kayak into the water, I was paddling north for a short adventure on the lake. Since my goal was a short, leisurely trip I decided to follow the shoreline of our next door neighbor's ranch and watch for wildlife. His lakefront is not accessible in most boats due to the tree stumps and shallow water, but it would be no problem to navigate in my kayak.
Immediately, I saw two giant blue herons, a common, but still always remarkable sight. I love the grace of these birds, but they are easily spooked when we are in our power boat. Now, as the kayak quietly slipped through the calm water, they remained perched on the tree stumps in shallow water, alertly scanning for their favorite meal to swim by. I was no bother to them at all.
Three sweet mallard ducks were nestled in the weedy grass at the shore, preening themselves and enjoying the quiet of the inlet. They didn't seem to notice me and my bright green kayak as I slid by.
The familiar cormorants were swimming and diving into the water for fish. A few were scouting for a meal from tree stumps scattered throughout the inlet. There were a few of another interesting bird that I didn't recognize but will certainly investigate. Perhaps a bittern?
There were cattle grazing along the shoreline who typically don't enjoy humans coming toward them, but contently watched as I quietly passed them in the water.
As I rounded a corner where I had planned to start heading back toward home, I studied the last part of that shoreline, admiring the new stand of young pines growing in front of an older stand of majestic tall pines. As I gazed from the young pines to the taller ones, I caught a glimpse of white and did a quick double take. There she was with her white crown of glory atop her head, an American Bald Eagle!
She literally took my breath away! Though I wasn't moving fast, I pulled my paddle out of the water and just sat in my kayak watching and admiring this gorgeous and powerful creature. My mind just kept screaming "WOW!" as I held my breath in an effort to be invisible. She stayed for a good while, turning her head in all directions with such precision and alertness. Finally, I watched as she flew out of the trees and across the water, such grace, and power, and courage showcased within an 8 foot wingspan.
I sat still, unable to move because my heart was so full of wonder and amazement. After a couple of minutes, I saw her returning toward me in flight. She landed in the exact spot from which she had launched moments ago, as if she were tethered so precise was her landing.
Immediately I heard it, the cries of baby eaglets! What amazement! What joy! What beauty! I couldn't believe there were baby eagles right next door to my house. How blessed am I to witness this glorious bird in person?
After watching until I felt I was invading on mother's privacy, I rushed back in the kayak to tell Bruce what I had witnessed. My suggestion was that he take the kayak and see for himself, but he wanted us both to go in the canoe. So, we did. This time, not only did we see one majestic Bald Eagle, we saw both parents! The two of them stood in the trees, beautiful white crowns on display above their powerful brown shoulders. The sun reflected off their yellow beaks and their fierce eyes didn't miss a single detail in the landscape.
Through a comedy of errors we did not get a photograph of the eagles. But, we will quietly and respectfully venture there again to watch and admire them. Hopefully, pictures will be in the future.
For now, I have vivid, powerful images etched into my brain of the day when God nudged me out of the garden and into the wild. Painful wasp sting? Baaahh! It would have been worth several to get me on the lake to behold the majesty God created.
Try going where He nudges you. You may just find that you are filled with amazement and joy!
Be love and be blessed,
My husband and I returned a couple of days ago from a junior high mission trip in La Porte, Texas. Neither of us has ever participated in a youth mission trip, even though our daughter went on several when she was in high school. Back then she did NOT want her parents along to "ruin" her fun.
When our church announced that adults were needed to go on the trip, it was as if God said to me "Get your bags packed, you're going." I told my hubbie that I had to go with or without him, but I preferred it to be with him. He obliged, naturally. :)
My eagerness and determination to go should not be construed to mean that I had a lack of fear or anxiety about accompanying our youth on their first, and my first, mission trip. I was plenty scared.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10
Boy, is that verse true! God answered our prayers, strengthened us and helped us. We aren't spring chickens any more, but with God's presence we were physically, emotionally and spiritually strong enough for anything that might happen.
We're so thankful that we listened to God's calling and accompanied our youth on their trip! We are both forever changed by our experience. Let me just list a few of the things we learned in those 3 days.
- Youth want non-family adults to take an interest in their lives. Not only do they "want" that, but they need it.
- When you take time to get to know kids, when they understand that you truly care about them, they will let you into their world. That may include asking your opinion about an important issue (when is the last time your own teenager asked your opinion?), or asking you what the Bible says about a specific topic, or just sharing how they feel about something or someone.
- Kids will follow your example, even if at first they are fearful. If they see you encourage, they will encourage. If they see you love unconditionally, they will love unconditionally. If they see you worship God with abandon, they will be comfortable in connecting with God.
- It doesn't matter your age or circumstance or ability, everyone can make an impact in the world and bring the love of Jesus to others.
Our worship experiences at camp were absolutely incredible! At times, there was not a dry eye among the 116 attendees. Worship was always about God and showing Him how much we love and need Him. It is never about us, even though we try to make it so.
But true to God's nature, He always has more to give than we understand or anticipate. So, even though our intent and purpose was to worship Him, He filled us with to overflowing with His joy and love. Teenagers flocked to the altar, raised their hands to heaven and praised God with tears pouring down their faces.
What a joyous and fulfilling sight! If I died tomorrow, I would be at peace and happy with the gifts of abundance that God has given me. The last night of worship with everyone on their feet at the front of the sanctuary, praising God, I thought this is exactly what Jesus was talking about when he said,
"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." - John 10:10
Be love and be blessed,
Sometimes I feel alone. I bet you do too.
But, we're not. Our loving Father is always with us. Many times though I neglect to be still, to quiet my mind, to seek Him.
He is there. He is waiting for me to slow down and spend time with Him. He longs to hear from me (and you) - and to speak to us. If only, I would quiet myself, and give Him my time.
Recently, I've felt a sense of loss in some relationships. I reach out to some whom I love, with caring, and find a void. There is no acknowledgement, or gentleness or return of loving gesture or feeling.
It is nothing that I can change, He has told me. He has encouraged me and affirmed me when I'm saddened by this lack of human caring or return of love.
And so I was in the garden, feeling a bit sad and alone, wondering about the way people treat one another. On my back I had strapped a backpack sprayer with 3 HEAVY gallons of organic plant food. With one hand I pumped the sprayer handle up and down to keep pressure in the tank, and in the other hand I held the sprayer nozzle.
As I began spraying my tomato plants, a beautiful small butterfly landed on my left hand. I stopped what I was doing to admire and study him, thinking he would fly off in a few seconds. He didn't.
He doesn't look colorful here, or particularly beautiful with his wings together on his back. But, occasionally he would open them ever so briefly and I'd glimpse a gorgeous kaleidoscope of color and pattern.
But his beauty was not the wondrous thing about this encounter. For this little butterfly was a divine messenger. In my heart, I heard God telling me, "You are not alone. I will never leave you nor forsake you. I will always love you."
Instantly, I felt joy and the sadness melted away. I thought, "Okay, I hear you Lord. Thank you for that reminder." But, He wasn't done encouraging me.
You see, my little winged friend refused to leave me. At first, I wouldn't use my left hand, not wanting to scare him away. Then, I decided to go about my chore, though gently. As I used my hand to pump up the sprayer, he hung on to my finger. I thought he would surely fly off any moment, but he stayed on my hand while I sprayed plant after plant.
"Wow God! You really know how to send a message!"
As I finished the garden and started to load the sprayer onto the cart to drive back to the barn and use the remaining spray for our blackberries, my friend flew off my hand. I smiled. How special our time together had been - He had cheered me so!
When I arrived at the barn, put on the backpack again and walked to the blackberries, I thought I saw a butterfly. Flutter. There. It was a different one on the blackberries. "Oh well," I thought, "it couldn't have been the same one."
At that moment I a felt a tickle on my left hand. I raised my hand, and there was my friend holding my hand in the very same spot as before! "This is amazing."
He stayed with me as I finished my chore. I carried him through the yard to show my husband and to take his picture. Finally, I told him thanks and let him know it was okay to leave now. Only then did he fly from my hand.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Father, you are so kind and generous with your love. You ALWAYS take time to show us your love if we stop to seek you and quiet ourselves in your presence. Thank you for the messenger of love you sent my way.
Be love and be blessed,
