Lessons from the Trail

Posted on by Wendy
If we want to experience all that God has for us, we have to keep moving towards Him.

A couple of weekends ago, my kiddos were both home from college and we decided to go on a hike in the North Georgia Mountains. Hiking is something we have always enjoyed as a family, even when the kids were little. There’s just something about getting outside and exploring, completely surrounded by nature, that has always fed our souls.

We have an interesting history with this particular trail. The first time we attempted it, we weren’t prepared. We stumbled upon it when we were driving around and just parked the car and hit the trail. It was late when we started and we didn’t bring water, but the trail was shaded and it wasn’t that hot. We had a late breakfast, so we hadn’t eaten lunch. The trail follows a stream the entire way and there are waterfalls along it. It’s beautiful, but it’s a five mile hike round trip and we didn’t know where we were going. We finally gave up and turned back.

When we got home and Googled it, we missed a pretty waterfall at the top and we were very close, when we gave up. But, how could we have known? There was no cell service there and we had never been before.

The next time we went, we were prepared. We brought water and snacks and we got an earlier start. We were a little discouraged because there were tons of cars when we arrived, but when we got on the trail, it wasn’t crowded. We saw people, but there was plenty of space. I am always amazed at how friendly people tend to be out on a hiking trail. Most people smile and speak. Folks seem visibly relaxed as if Creation somehow brings out the better part of all of us.

This time, we made it to the top, but it was Fall of 2016 and a large part of the mountains were on fire. We had no idea that there was a fire just over the ridge and a lot of the people there were hoping to see it. We got down off of that mountain trail in record time.

Fast forward to 2020. We decided to give that trail another go. My children were now a sophomore and senior in college instead of high school like the time before. The entire world had been in some level of quarantine or lock down from Covid-19 since March, not to mention, reeling from months of social unrest and it was now Labor Day and we wanted to get out, to escape the news and the noise. This time, we brought provisions and my daughter’s precious pup.

When we arrived, there were cars everywhere. They were parked all up and down the road so close together that we wondered if our truck could even get by. It seemed a lot of other people needed to escape as well. We almost left, wondering how it would be possible to safely hike with all of those people, but we didn’t. We found a spot and hit the trail.

We were pleasantly surprised. While we did encounter people along the trail, there was plenty of space and masks. We saw old and young. We saw people of every color and as I have come to expect while out on a nature trail, there were friendly smiles and greetings. There was no tension or politics. No one seemed to mind if they had to wait for others to snap a photo. No one seemed to be in a big rush. There were simply people trying to enjoy some beauty and quiet and to soak up Creation.

This time, we made it to the top and sat and rested for a bit, taking it all in, so glad that we had come. Thankfully, there was no fire, just lots of fellow travelers who like us, seemed genuinely pleased to be there.

I have learned a lot from that mountain trail. I have learned that on our journey here, it’s okay to rest when we get tired, but if we want to experience all that God has for us, we have to get back up and we can’t turn back. I have learned that we need to plan for some provision both physically and spiritually. I have learned that the path rarely stays exactly the same, but God does. Perhaps most importantly, I have learned that in God’s economy, there’s always room for one more. His space is unlimited.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too. Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Spider Lessons

Posted on by Wendy
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22

A few days ago, I was heading out to my backyard when I encountered a big garden spider on a huge web. I’m in my backyard almost everyday and it seemed like she appeared overnight on her web and all in all of her glory. If I’m completely honest, I will admit I have never been a fan of spiders, however, as I’ve grown older, I have come to admire their craftsmanship.

Have you ever really examined or stopped to appreciate, (from a respectable difference of course!), the intricacies of a spider’s web? They are so precisely made, like natural works of art. Besides their artistry, those webs are very effective as well, as anyone who has had the misfortune of unknowingly walking into one can tell you.

So, I paused for a moment to admire nature’s art, and I was reminded what seeing a spider in that spot likely meant. It’s late August in Georgia, as I write this, and we are easily hitting ninety degrees on most days, yet spiders on large webs, begin to appear every year as summer nears its end and fall draws closer. I chuckled to myself and wondered if this particular spider was mistaken. Fall feels very far away at the moment, despite what retailers would like for us to believe. It’s hard to think about pumpkins spice when it’s ninety outside.

But, a couple of days later, when I was out on a walk, I saw another spider on a large web, high up in the trees and I knew that the first spider wasn’t out of sync somehow. Why would she be?

As humans, 2020 along with the corresponding virus, social unrest, masks and divisive politics that will forever be linked with it, has created havoc for us. The human world is in chaos and nothing seems normal and sometimes we wonder if it ever will be again. We don’t trust the news, or our leaders or even our health officials, who seem to change their minds on a daily basis. It’s enough to make us want to throw up our hands and just give up. What’s the point of trying to make a difference in this crazy world?

Yet, God shows us another way. God is a God of order, not a God of chaos and when we want to find Him and some order, which is part of His plan, we can always look to His creation. Nature is completely unaffected my the chaos currently plaguing humanity. Spiders are building their webs. Fall is coming. God is still in charge despite what humanity might think.

As I thought about the spiders on my way home, I felt some peace settle into my heart as I always do when I truly seek God. A dear friend of mine recently reminded me that when we intentionally seek more of God and less of man, peace will always be close by. She was right. Some spider webs reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Pear Tree Lessons

Posted on by Wendy
What we sow today can last for generations.

On a recent visit to my parents’ house, I was delighted to learn that the pears were ready. If a stranger were to look at their pear tree, they would likely conclude it’s the ugliest tree they have ever seen and to the casual observer it probably is. My daddy has had to stake and tie the branches up because they are too week to hold the fruit.

The tree itself is covered in lichen and it truly looks like a good puff of wind would blow it right over, but that tree represents a beautiful picture of faith.

My grandmother planted that tree well over 50 years ago. She had an amazing green thumb and when she and my granddaddy built the house they planned to retire in, she lovingly planned and planted trees and bushes all over their property. She even had a pond built because she loved to fish. But, my grandmother never got to live in the house, she went home to be with Jesus before they ever moved in, one month before I was born.

I never got to meet her. Yet, I see her all over the property. There are azaleas, camelias and a wide variety of bulbs and other things she planted that still bloom. Her great grandchildren fish in that beautiful pond and my brother, her grandson, delights in fishing as much as she ever did.

And then there’s the pear tree. The spindly pear tree that she planted with her own hands, all those years ago, looks like it’s barely hanging on. It would fool the casual observer, because as frail as that tree looks, it produces so many pears, that it can hardly remain standing. The fruit is misshapened. You would probably never pick it up if you saw it in a store, but you would be missing out. Those odd looking pears are the most delicious pears I have ever eaten, sweet and amazingly juicy.

Every year when I learn that the pears are ready, I am reminded that we all will leave some type of legacy from our time spent here on earth. We all plant whether we intend to or not. Sometimes it’s physical planting like that pear tree and sometimes it’s a spiritual planting. We all sow seeds. We decide what kind they are. We can sow seeds of hope, love, faith, peace, patience and kindness or we can sow seeds of anger, hate and fear.

And just like that pear tree, what we sow, can live for generations after we are gone. The pear tree also reminds me that we sometimes never see what we sow on this side of eternity, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep sowing. Sometimes the fruit produced from our seeds might not look pretty on the outside, but the sweetness on the inside has always been what really matters.

A pear tree reminded me to be mindful and intentional about what we sow and to never stop sowing. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

There’s a Plan

Posted on by Wendy
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

A couple of weeks ago, I took a walk in my neighborhood and I ran into a a friend who I hadn’t seen in quite some time. We worshiped at the same church for many years, attended the same Sunday school class, even attended a ladies group where we prayed for each other at one point. It was good to see her and we took a few minutes to catch up on each other’s lives.

She shared like everyone else, that she was concerned about Covid-19, concerned about the safety of her family and the safety of her grandkids who are back in school and concerned about her own safety. We talked about what a mess our world is at the moment. I reminded her like those of us who share faith are called to, that God has a plan, that even thought we can see nothing but chaos, He has a plan and He loves us and in the end, it’s all going to be okay. She knew it, but she seemed pleased to have the reminder.

I relayed the story to my hubby later and we talked about how we are always amazed at how God puts people in our paths at a certain time for a reason. I thought about our encounter for the rest of the day.

Later that evening, my son called to tell me what was going on with his class schedule. He transferred colleges this year and almost all of his classes at his new school have gone online. It’s difficult to meet new people when most of your classes are online. He said his roommate told him that he picked the worst year ever to transfer. I told him I was sorry, but who could have planned for a worldwide pandemic?

Then he said, “there’s a plan.” I fought back tears as I agreed with him. My hubby and I have shared our faith with him since he was a baby. It was so comforting to hear him acknowledge his faith when he’s going through such a difficult time. I wouldn’t have been surprised to hear him questioning his faith, but he was amazingly matter-of-fact and I held his words close to my heart.

When I was driving home from work with a migraine the next day day, from working in an office with too much light and reflection due to plexiglass, installed for safety, I was in tears. Out of the blue, my son’s words popped back into my head followed by the conversation with my neighbor.

God used both of those conversations to remind me and bring me comfort. God has a plan. It may not look like it. I’m sure it didn’t look like it to the Israelites who roamed in the desert. I’m sure it didn’t look like it to Jonah when he was in the belly of the fish or to Daniel when he was in the lion’s den. The Bible is full of stories teaching us about God’s sovereighnty in the darkest of times.

Those of us of faith can rest assured, God has a plan and He loves us. A conversation with my neighbor, a phone call with my son and a migraine reminded me. Sometimes I need reminding, perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Internet Outage

Posted on by Wendy

Due to an internet outage in my area last night and my inability to type an entire blog on my phone, I have no post today. Have a wonderful weekend!

Have an awesome day!😊
Wendy

Hummingbird Lessons

Posted on by Wendy
When we focus on what we’ve been given, it’s usually more than enough.

I haven’t had many hummingbirds this year. I have no idea why. I hung my feeder in the spring like I always do and I patiently waited. I was so excited when the first one arrived and then the second, but I never got over three or four. Normally, I hang two feeders to keep them all fed, but this year, I only needed one and I kept it half full so the sugar water wouldn’t go bad before they could drink it.

But, about a week ago, traffic began to pick up. I had more visitors and I filled the feeder back up to the top. One morning last week, I watched two of the little birds viciously fight each other at the feeder. It was filled completely to the top. There were plenty of perches and plenty of food, yet instead of partaking of what had been freely given to them, they fought over who would get to feed there.

When I commented to my hubbby about how foolish they were acting and how much time they were wasting focusing on each other instead of what was in front of them, he commented, “Aren’t we all like that?”

I thought about those hummingbirds and his words for the rest of the day. He was right; we do tend to act like those foolish birds perhaps now more than ever. We have been slogging our way through a pandemic for six months now with no end in sight and we are weary. There has been a lot of sickness and death and yet there has been amazing provision as well.

The grocery stores are stocked once again. Toilet paper has made a comeback. Our hospitals are not overwhelmed and treatments are getting better, but instead of focusing on provision, we focus on each other. Who is wearing a mask? Who isn’t? Who is right? Who is wrong? Which school district is going back in person? Which is going virtual and why each is wrong or right? Even when parents can choose virtual or in person, it’s still a fight.

And of course, there’s all of the politics.

At closer inspection, we have a lot in common with those hummingbirds. What would happen if we were to prayerfully focus on the gifts we have been given at this moment, and if we are honest, it’s way more than we acknowledge, and stop concerning ourselves with what everyone else is doing? It may help if we begin with a large dose of humility admitting that none of us are in charge. None of us really know what we are doing and most everyone is doing the best that they can.

As I was writing, a verse popped into my mind. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

It seems to fit the times we are in, funny how the Bible works that way.

Some hummingbirds reminded me to focus on what we have and what we have been called to do. What everyone else is doing is between them and God. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Hope and Faith will Find a Way

Posted on by Wendy
The hosta survived despite my lack of care.

Around ten years ago, we decided to do a little landscaping in our backyard, nothing too over the top. We just decide to create a pathway and line it with rocks and hosta. There was a lot of shade back there, so we figured hosta would do well. We ordered assorted bulbs from online and planted them as directed.

I was delighted when they sprouted the first time. I would drag hoses down to keep them watered and they flourished. When the winter came, they died back, but the next spring, when I was carefully raking leaves, they were back, just tiny little sprouts peaking through. I was thrilled. They grew fast and got bigger and they added some greenery to the backyard. They grew so large that we were able to divide them and plant more.

For a few years, we had that same cycle. The fresh shoots were a little signal that spring was on the way. But,then something unfortunate happened. A deer jumped the fence and ate all of the hosta to the ground. I was really bummed, but hoped that they would recover the following year. They didn’t.

We decide to give up and counted the hosta a loss. In fact, we didn’t try to do anything productive in the backyard for many years. But, this past spring, we were stuck at home for months in quarantine and decided to put in a backyard goldfish pond. We put in some different plants to add greenery around it.

Recently, when I went to water an azalea we had planted, I was delighted to discover a remnant from that hosta we planted all of those years ago. Somehow, with no help from me, no water, no care, it found a way to survive and spring back forth. I marveled at its tenacity. I marveled at how life found a way in spite of what seemed to be impossible conditions.

Hope and faith can be like that.

Last Sunday, we attended a church service and they announced there would be communion. I was so happy to hear it. There’s something amazingly spiritually fulfilling about taking communion with other Christians and I’ve missed it since this pandemic has swept the world. I wondered how we could possibly have communion with social distancing, masks and not touching each other as an usher passed out ziploc bags. Inside each bag, was a tiny sealed cup of juice and when we carefully opened it up, a tiny wafer was sealed on top.

The Church found a way. I found myself once again amazed as I fought back tears.

These are dark days we are living in and we are weary. The news just never seems to get better, yet God is still at work, working all things for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. We know this is true because the Bible tells us so.

A small hosta sprout and a tiny communion cup reminded me. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do to.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Taking a Break

Posted on by Wendy

I have family visiting over the next few weeks. There will be lots of laughing and talking and very little quiet time, so I’m going to take a break and be fully present. I hope to see you back in this space soon. I hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe 4th of July.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

Pond Lessons

Posted on by Wendy
Sometimes the things we see as damaged can transform into something amazing.

This past spring my family, like most families, had a lot of extra time on our hands. We were all stuck at home for days on end and we needed a project to keep us busy. Our backyard had a big wide hole in it since we moved in caused by erosion. My hubby talked about bringing in dirt to fill it, but I thought we should work with what we had and convert it to a fish pond. The years passed and we never got around to it. We never had the time. All of a sudden, we found ourselves with time.

My daughter and my hubby spent time measuring and digging and picking out the right size liner. We spent time combing the internet for the right plants to buy. We wanted to create an ideal ecosystem where the fish and the plants would feed each other. We dug up and moved around countless rocks to line the pond. When we finally filled it with water, we waited anxiously for the plants to arrive. They were very small and we weren’t sure how they would do, but we carefully transplanted them and hoped for the best.

We were delighted to see how quickly they took root, grew and multiplied. When we added fish, they hid under a big rock for over a week and it was hard to see them. The water was murky and we were a little disappointed. Everyday we would go to see if we could catch a glimpse of the shy fish. In the beginning, they were hard to find. As the days passed, the water got clearer and both the plants and fish grew.

A couple of months down the road, the fish and plants have tripled in size and the water has cleared up. We find ourselves spending hours listening to the waterfalls and watching the fish. They now know that we feed them, so they come to the surface instead of hiding when we they see us.

Our latest development has been hundreds of tadpoles added to the mix along with some snails and of course, frogs. I find myself amazed when I remember that our vibrant little ecosystem that is sustaining so much life, was just a barren crater, essentially damaged goods caused by the elements, seemingly useless at first glance.

With a little hard work, patience and faith, amazing things can happen.

Recently, as I was sitting by our little pond I reflected on the lessons it has taught me. The first is to work with what we have been given. Instead of filling in that hole with dirt to make it like the rest of the yard, we took what made it different and turned it into something unique. The second is patience. Even with all of our planning, a certain amount of waiting was required. We had to wait for the water to clear, and for the plants to grow. We had to wait for the fish to trust us. The third is faith and wonder, faith that change was coming and a sense of wonder when it did.

In times like these, I needed those lessons. Perhaps you did too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

The Redemption Business

Posted on by Wendy
Jesus sees way past where we are and where we’ve been. He sees our potential.

My son is moving into his first college house in August. He was in a dorm last year and so it was completely furnished. The house he is moving into is not, so he needs some furniture for his bedroom. When his sister moved into her first house a couple of years ago, I refinished furniture that had belonged to my grandparents that was sitting in my parents’ barn.

Quite honestly, I didn’t think there was any furniture left in that barn. My mama casually mentioned that she thought the pink furniture was still down there. I laughed. That furniture had been hers when she was a little girl. I really didn’t see how I could make the pink furniture work for my 19 year old son. But, we went and took a look anyway. It was in surprisingly good shape for furniture over 50 years old.

It was covered in grime. A mouse had moved into the night stand, but it had potential. It was solid. It took lots of scrubbing and disinfectant; the night stand was really gross; but I felt excitement building when we loaded it up in the truck.

I love to redo furniture. We live in a world where just about everything it seems, is disposable and our landfills are a testament to that fact. But, our disposable mindset can spill over into our personal lives too. Our relationships have even become disposable. If things get tough, we toss them out and look for someone new. How did people become disposable?

In the disposable world we live in, there’s something almost spiritual for me, when I can give brand new life to something that has been tossed to the side. I can scrub off grime, evict the mice and paint or stain. I can add shiny new hardware and something that was considered beyond redemption, becomes redeemed.

As followers of Jesus, I suppose many of us can relate to the old furniture. Jesus sometimes finds us when we are a complete mess, tossed in a corner, covered in the grime of our sin with little to offer to the world. But, our Savior who once nicknamed the man who would deny Him three times, “Petra,” of all things, which means the rock, sees our potential, just as He saw Peter’s. He sees what we can become. His love for us and our future with Him is in no way tied to where we are or where we’ve been.

When we reach for Him, He cleans us off and turns us into something new and exquisite and teaches us to use gifts we didn’t even know we had to serve Him and share the Good News with a world that desperately needs to hear it.

Some old, grimy, pink furniture, reminded me that if we are breathing, Jesus has plans for us. We are not disposable to Him; we are loved. The redemption business is His business. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you did too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂