Teaching Sunsets

"Be exalted, O God above the heavens, let your glory be over all the earth." (Psalm 108:5)

School has started again for me. Writing syllabi, course outlines, picking out books, organizing assignments, communicating with sometimes eager students (sometimes weary students... already!), lecturing, dealing with technology, figuring out schedules for car pools and bus rides.... It's been a little dizzying. But I love teaching... I enjoy seeing the student's eyes opened and their lives changed. Sometimes it's like a glimmer of light penetrates their thoughts.... "Oh!.... I never thought about life that way...." or "Aha! That makes sense!" and the flood gates of understanding open wide. I think the small impact my teaching has on my students motivates me. Encourages me. Drives me to be the best person I can be... to demonstrate to them what a whole being is. Role model what it means to be a social, physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual being. And integrate these "facets of being" into a living diamond. Needless to say, I am not the gem cutter. Even in my own life I cannot be made whole (or beautiful) without the Master's expert and gentle hands molding (or striking?) me. Neither can my students. But last year one of my students (who had been struggling) wrote me a note. "Chris, I want to be just like you. You are my role model. Thank you." Needless to say, it has stuck with me (I get plenty of other, sometimes not so encouraging comments too). I needed that and I remind myself that I have made a difference in at least one person's life... helped her see the diamond in the rough.

When was the last time I said to my Teacher "I want to be just like You"? I have gotten weary with busyness and tediosity. Short sighted. Crisis driven. And self centered.

But look at that sky above. My son took the photo last evening. It was the first beautiful sunset in many weeks. But it touched my heart. It was if God was saying, "I am here... remember"

O, Lord, may my life's prayer be "I want to be just like You". Thank you for reminding me that You are the Master gem cutter.... making me into a beautiful diamond.

Eggs!

An egg! An egg! Have you ever seen such a wonderful site? Yeah! Yahoo!

It's been almost six months since we got our cute little fluffy day old chicks. They spent (believe it or not) the first twelve weeks of their life in my basement. (Never again.) But we built them a beautiful chicken coop and let them free range all over the farm. Sometimes it's a little inconvenient... they leave their droppings near the door at times. But they sure are fun to watch... they do the funniest things. I think that they think I'm the pied piper. Whenever I'm walking outside they follow me. It's the funniest thing. But in spite of their cuteness and warm welcomes every morning I have been eagerly waiting the arrival of why we got chickens in the first place - eggs. Yesterday my son found our first egg in the chicken coop. He, of course, got to have it for breakfast. He requested a fried egg sandwich (as you can see above). You can't see it but that egg yolk was the brightest yellow orange I've ever seen... almost like a pumpkin. My son said it tasted wonderful. And today we got our second egg (He found that one too). Many more to follow I hope.

Today's journey joy - our first farm fresh egg

Keep your clothes on

"But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith?" (Matthew 6:30)

How come I fret and worry over silly things? What should I wear? Will the other students like my daughter? Will they be kind? Will she? Will the chickens lay eggs soon? Will the corn be harvested before the worms attack or the racoons? Will the squash and pumpkins survive the squash vine borers? Will my house ever get clean? Will my son like school this year?

Why do I concern myself with these things? They take so much mental and emotional energy. A weight dragging my soul......

Queen Anne's lace is considered a weed in this part of the country. It has deep roots and sends its seed out every autumn. But in the midsummer it has a beautiful, delicate, white lacy flower (hence the name). The honey bees do not care for it but some other bees or flying insects do seem to like it. Yet the plant is prolific and spreads everywhere. Still, I like 'em.

Gently swaying in the breeze...blooming (smiling?) even in the rain...perhaps that's what draws me to this "weed." Queen Anne's lace doesn't know it is a weed. It grows & blooms gracefully without worry. It reflects the majesty of its Creator as it lines the pastures of our farm with beauty. But sometimes I feel like a weed. Misplaced, unwanted, unworthy... like a weed. But His gentle and loving voice speaks to my heart... "I clothe the wildflowers. Do you see their beauty? Can you savor their eagerness? Their joy? I care for them... even more, I care for and love you."

May I keep the clothing of God on today and remove the clothing of anxiousness, worry, and fear. That is my prayer. Jesus reminds me, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well." Keep your clothes on today.. the ones you were given.

Today's journey joy - beautiful flowers

Surprise! Surprise!

"But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold fast in an honest and good heart and bear fruit with patient endurance." Luke 8:15

We purchased our small twenty one acre farm in the fall of 2004. In the spring of 2005 I planted a nectarine tree (the sweet juicy fruit is fabulous). The poor tree has been virtually ignored in the busyness of life and work of starting the farm. I think I pruned it a little last year. It is about seven feet tall with less than desirable branching angles and surrounded by three foot tall grass that needs to be removed. Earlier this spring some of the leaves were covered in some sort of scabby, bumpy disease or infestation. Again, I was too busy or distracted to do anything about it. So when the children and I went for a stroll to investigate the ripeness of the wild grapes along the driveway I was surprised to see some red color in the small tree. "Is that a nectarine?" I exclaim. "No, it's probably just some early changing leaves since the tree is not the healthiest" I thought to myself. But as we got closer and I reached out and touched it, sure enough, a small baseball sized firm yellow-red nectarine was growing. The aroma was irresistible. It is now on the counter finishing its ripening. (I was afraid the myriad of birds would find it and peck a bazillion holes in it). Our first nectarine! Yum.

"Bear fruit with patient endurance..." It is remarkable how this little tree endured and still bore fruit. Against bugs, disease, choking grass, and neglect the dwarf nectarine tree did what it was designed to do...bear fruit. So with "a honest and good heart" I too will "hold fast" and prayerfully and joyfully bear fruit today "with patient endurance." Will my fruit be sweet and juicy? ☺

Today's journey joy - the first nectarine!

Boots is Big

We had a cat named Boots. The kids really loved him. They snuggled him and petted him. They had a song about him that went like this: ♫ Boots is big, Boots is big, but he is not fat. He is a big cat!♫ Some times he would climb up a tree and not be able to get down! He would meow, then put his front paws out, then the back paws, and then tumble down headfirst! He would meow on impact and start purring. But one day he went off into the world and never came back. We asked if our neighbor had seen him, but they hadn’t. We sure do miss him.

Written by B