Winter!

I wrote a post for my blog this morning.   It was eloquent and descriptive.  It described the appearance of several deer outside our backyard.  A correlation was made between the natural camouflage of the deer, standing against the drab and brown backdrop of West Texas, and those seasons of our lives that are characterized by a dull, mundane existence.  The inviting words and descriptive phrases flowed with a quaint hint of where the post was leading.  At least, that was the perception of this want-a-be professional writer.  Then I lost it!  It was gone!  Revision had turned into delete and technical ignorance morphed the post into nothingness.    Gone!

Time was spent looking and searching, to no avail.  What had seemed an inventive and inspiring addition to this evolving work, which is my blog, turned out to be unread words, destined to be a non-descript bit of knowledge, for this writer’s future.  Although none of you will be drawn into the mesmerizing scene that unfolded just outside our fence, I caught a glimpse of the power that words can have.  Taking that scene and putting it into words was like painting a beautiful picture to share with others.  Giving freedom to the power of that moment and allowing the One who created it to open up the eyes of my soul, I realized that even when we feel lost and bewildered by the drab and dull times in our lives, there is a beauty in what God is doing.  For those 5 beautiful deer, the backdrop of the dry and brown West Texas brush and mesquites, was a scene of safety.  Hidden amidst the dead leaves and grass were tiny patches of green; color that would help feed and sustain their existence.  Had the scene been one of a budding spring or the full blown green of summer, or even the fading colors of fall, the blending browns and grays, black and tans of their coats could have been boldly seen.  Instead, they faded in to the monochromatic shades of winter and fed leisurely in the early morning sun.

What lesson did I take from this brief glimpse out my window this morning?  There are those times in our lives, when we feel dull, lost, hurt and confused by the season we pass through.  The absence of vibrant laughter and the missing of familiar voices lend our hearts to see life as mundane and lacking the joy of colorful activities.  If we will but open up the eyes of our soul, we will see that those are often the times when we are more enriched and sustained in the simplicity of the days.  We are protected from the distractions and noise that prevent our listening to the voice of the One who made us.  We are allowed to graze on the fullness of brief moments of color that illuminate and nourish our soul to a healthier, more balanced existence.  The lesson this morning was sweet!  I will embrace the quiet, mundane and seemingly dull seasons of my life, knowing that like the deer, my God will strengthen, sustain and protect through that season.  He will restore my soul –  just as He restores to me, even those things that seemed lost…like a simple blog post.

Habakkuk 3:19 says, “The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invinsible army; He makes my feet like hind’s (deer’s) feet and will make me to walk and make progress upon my high places (of trouble and suffering)!  Amplified Bible

A Work of Art

I have been asking myself, “What is the purpose for this blog I write?”  Do I impart great wisdom and profound opinions about any particular subject?  Is there a message that I desire to convey as I share my heart with others?  The answer that has reverberated through my soul is one of HOPE.  There is hope for each of us – no matter what our life situations.  I write about my life.  I write about my family.  I write about my God.  Yes, I know that life, family, and God are of interest to many people.  I know too, that there is a need for thoughts and ideas and just plain good advice to be shared, about each of these subjects. But most of my writing is about MY life.  It is about events, situations and feelings – the goings on of everyday living.  I do NOT have all the answers!  There is one fact though, that has been interwoven into every aspect of my life and thus, my writing.  It is the fact that the threads of this life have been held together by a sovereign and eternal God.  That statement might imply that every day has been easy, it hasn’t.  I wish it meant that each day has unfolded like a tapestry that has no spot or blemish or wrinkle.  I would love to say it will end like a wonderful book, written with my chosen story book ending for the participants and characters which are my life.  But I can’t and I won’t!  There are those times, when life doesn’t happen OR end up the way we thought it should or would.  These days, which I have been given to live, are days of unknown and wonder.  Day which have allowed me to see the unfolding of a story written and edited and illustrated by the very Creator of the universe.  His orchestration of this symphony, which is my life, has resulted in miracles and blessings which I could never have composed.  I am thankful that because of Him, my life is a work of art…and I will share it!

Jeremiah 29: 11 says, “For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and for peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your future.”