It's the Journey That Matters

I don't know about you, but trips as a youth were more often than not about the destination, rather than journey. We would focus on getting to where we were headed, often without many stops. I've carried that habit throughout the life, "Get in the car and let's get going."

The scenic island journey to Hana on Maui, to me was all about getting there and with the switch backs and the slow moving seniors in front of me caused me much frustration (sure my travel buddy was just as frustrated at me). I'd stop the car, glance at the beautiful waterfall and vegatation but jump back in the car so I wouldn't get behind the three slow moving cars I'd passed earlier. Sad, isn't it? Focusing so much on what is ahead and forgeting to enjoy the beauty of the moment now and present.

This tendency reared its ugly head on my last week as I traveled to St. Mary's, Mont. on the eastside of Glacier Park in Western Montana. I drove through the park and on the Road to the Sun. Magnificent, magnificent mountains shrouded in clouds all around me. Incredible lake and river bed at the side of the road. In the beginning of the 30-mile trip that took about an hour, I was impatient. "This driving under 25 miles under is ridiculous," I thought. Still focusing on the destination.

As the road drew me up and up the side of the mountians, a shallow ribbon of a road, hugging the rocky cliff on one side and the precarious drop of hundreds of feet to the right of my car; I began thinking how silly my fixation on the destination is, especially when surrounded by God's incredible splendor and beauty.

How often in my daily life do I fixatate on something in the future, either later that same day, week or month? Not stopping to thank the Lord for the many, many blessings he has given me. I'm blessed, and now gently reminded that my life is the journey of all journeys. Do I need to fix my eyes on Heaven--my destination? Of course, but it is my daily thoughts and actions that all add up to my life and journey I'm on.

Thanks, Lord for the incredible breathtaking splendor of your mountains to remind me about the present -- my actions and thoughts. Taking the time to stop and enjoy the many blessings you've given me.

Picking the Fruit of Self-Control

“Be self-controlled and alert.”
1 Peter 5:8

I spent a half a day yesterday picking pie-cherries. My dear neighbor Connie makes a most magical cherry pie that we all call “fun pie” cuz it is like a party in your mouth. We have about five or six pie-cherry trees between our houses that needed to be harvested. And I’m always willing to pick in the name of future fun pies.

I enjoy harvesting fruit (must be my ag roots J) I began picking the fruit at ground level. Picking was easy and seemed to go rather quickly, the quality was okay (seemed good at the time). Later I used the ladder and climbed up to the top rungs and begin to reaching the bright sun-warmed cherries from the top of the tree branches. These cherries were larger and more plentiful. And as usually my mind wanders as my fingers picked. I realized that the struggle with the ladder, dragging it among the branches, trying to find stable ground and climbing to the almost top rung was worth the effort. The cherries in the top branches were beautiful and my bucket filled quickly.

I thought about the terms “low-hanging fruit and cherry-picking” and how at first glance both idioms make sense — being an efficient, taking the path of least resistance, seizing the easiest opportunities. But as I continue to pick I realized that many times it is the additional effort that makes the difference that often times what seems to be the easiest opportunities might also be considered being complacent and taking the easy way out.

I’ve been quite complacent in my life lately. I eat whatever, I spend my time watching tv or reading whatever – not striving to do what is best with my time or my mind. I’m being lazy and lacking in self-control. I’m so tempted to continue contemplating this, examining my situatution, trying to reason why; but have realized what is needed most NOW is self-control and action rather than analysis. Actively choosing words, thoughts and ACTIONS that move me towards what God intends for me as one of the fruits of the spirit – self-control.

Moment by moment awareness and remembrance in choosing what is best, not what it easiest. For when you reach for your best and focus on the Lord, that is when you are rewarded with the sun-warmed fruit … or the much cherished fruit of the spirit.

Circus Fun

This afternoon Eli, Todd and I went to the Shriners' Circus. Wow, not sure if Eli's unbridled excitement and enthusiam was even more so due to the sack of cotton candy he ate or not ... but his GLEE and laughter at the clowns and dog acts were definately worth the price of admission.

When is the last time you stopped and appreciated a child's giggle or gleeful squal? I'm blessed to say, I took the time this afternoon and it was wonderful.

Happy Spring?

Rumor has it is now "officially" spring. Don't think old man winter is ready to give up the ghost round here yet.

I do see some small, but important signs of spring. So I've not given up hope that someday (soon hopefully) the old piles of snow will disppear and the tulips will appear. Soon, yes, soon.

2 for 2009

Sheesh, only two blogs posted in 2009??? What happen to my resolution to blog at least twice a week?

I do go on line and check out Lindsay's and Kellie's blogs catching up on their life and times much more regularly than twice a week. Being inspired by their words, their thoughts and great photos, I so appreciate what YOU share with me.

Then I sigh and think I need to post something .... sigh again and wait for the inspiration .... and wait ... yea and wait yet some more. I've concluded that if I've determined to wait for sheer inspiration to strike ... Nuttin' is gonna get writ!

So welcome March, the third month, sixth day finds my third blog posting of 2009. No inspiration, just a shout out to my dear friends to let you know that I soooo enjoy hearing about what is going on in your life on a regular basis and am sooooo thankful to have such dear friends -- even though I certainly don't get to visit face to face as much as I'd like.

Here is a bit o' wisdom from Proverbs 18:20 (The Message)

"Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest."

Thanks dear friend for the good talks when we have them and for your friendship which I cherish!

Thankful for Nothing

I woke up this morning and realized I was thankful for "nothing". Nothing eventful had happened in the night.

• My boy slept through the night


• My dog slept through the night


• No earthquakes or tornados affected me nor my family


• No plane crashed into my house nor neighborhood


• There is no war happening in my country


• There is no famine


• I have a wonderful house and job

Sometimes I wish for more excitement in my life, and I often overlook the abundance of blessings I've been given and take for granted or think it is really nothing.

God has given me so very much to be thankful for and I raise my voice in thanksgiving.

"Oh thank God -- he's so good! His love never runs out." Psalms 107:1

Get Plowed

Okay, that title is a bit misleading, but catchy. Back in November E and I when on one of our afternoon adventures and took the above photo of the fall fields. My purpose in taking the photos was to get one that reflected a daily devotion that stopped in my tracks last fall.

This is from Chuck Swindoll's Day by Day Devotion

"There are two kinds of lives -- the fallow and the plowed. "The man of fallow life is contented with himself and the fruit he once bore. He does not want to be disturbed ... He has fenced out God and the miracle. The plowed life is the life that has ... sent the plow of confession into the soul ... And as always fruit follows the plow'" (AW Tozer).

Am I content with past prayers, witnesses, steps in faith? Or do I beseech the Lord to plow my soul and till it in preparation for optimum seed growth? Hmmm, lately I've been more inclined to be resting on my laurels. Taking the easy way, not the path less taken.

Are you asking the Lord to plow your soul, to ready it for His plan and will?

"Sow righteousness, reap love. It's time to til the ready earth, it's time to dig in with God, Until he arrives with righteousness ripe for harvest."

Hosea 10:12 (The Message)