I always find it interesting how often Jesus used nature for illustrations when teaching: sparrows, lilies, fig trees, birds of the air, foxes, seeds in the ground dying in order to produce life, and so on. He loved His creation and used it to reveal so much about Himself. One of the lessons I enjoy as I walk my acres is that there's a time and a place for everything. What do I mean? Flowers and trees have their assignment: some are assigned to grow and bloom in full sunshine. Some thrive only in the shade. Some can handle partial sun or partial shade--whichever you prefer to call it. (I wonder if that reveals anything about your attitude? I prefer "partial shade." Call me melancholy.) But if you plant a flower in an area it's not designed for, it doesn't do well. It may even die. In addition, some plants need a certain type of soil in order to do their best. And some can take the cold while others are destroyed by the slightest frost. Where you plant them and when you plant them makes all the difference in the world.
And plants have their own time frame as well. Crocus, Lenten roses, hyacinth bloom in early spring followed by the daffodils and other spring flowers. Iris bloom in early summer. Lilies embrace the summer heat. Sedum and asters wait until fall. Some flowers, shrubs, and trees take years to become mature enough to bloom at all. Each flower and tree has a certain time when it blooms. The obvious advantage to that is I can enjoy God's beauty all year long. Every walk is gorgeous.
I think, in a way, the same is true of us. God has designed us to grow at different "speeds," to excel in certain "environments," to bloom and bear fruit in the place where He has planted us. I pray that like the lilies of the valley I will always be content to do that--to grow in the place He "plants" me and to radiate whatever "beauty" He has seen fit to give me--to have my walk with Him "gorgeous" every day.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Melodic Cacophony
The birds are ready for spring! Every time I walk, they are bursting with song. Everyone is, of course, singing their own aria. It's not as if it's a choir. But it is melodic.
The robin is into loud. He tries to drown out all the competition.
The cardinal is the male diva--whatever you would call that--"pretty, pretty, pretty." What an ego!
The red-winged black bird rolls his rs.
The cow bird has the most melodic song--like the sound of a brook in the woods. I guess it's God making up for its drab color and horrendous life style.
The chickadee is my kind of singer. It's all about a joyful noise! (The blue jays and crows agree. A trio.)
The mourning doves live up to their name--a soft sad coo that seems to echo through the air and travel for miles.
The goldfinch--who have not bloomed yet--sound like little kids twittering in the corner. Gossiping, I guess, about the other couples getting together. They don't plan to nest until late summer or early fall.
The woodpeckers and nuthatches remind me of the guy with the little pitch pipe. Only they're trying to make sure everyone is as off tune as they are, doing their own thing. (And occasionally one of them throws in a little drumming.)
There are other songs from other birds that in my ignorance I cannot identify. I need to get Mom outside to hear them. She'll know them all.
It is a cacophony. But put them all together: robincardinalredwingedblackbirdcowbirdchickadeebluejaycrowmourningdovewoodpeckernuthatchgoldfinch and it will quicken your step, lift your spirits, and put a song in your heart.
The robin is into loud. He tries to drown out all the competition.
The cardinal is the male diva--whatever you would call that--"pretty, pretty, pretty." What an ego!
The red-winged black bird rolls his rs.
The cow bird has the most melodic song--like the sound of a brook in the woods. I guess it's God making up for its drab color and horrendous life style.
The chickadee is my kind of singer. It's all about a joyful noise! (The blue jays and crows agree. A trio.)
The mourning doves live up to their name--a soft sad coo that seems to echo through the air and travel for miles.
The goldfinch--who have not bloomed yet--sound like little kids twittering in the corner. Gossiping, I guess, about the other couples getting together. They don't plan to nest until late summer or early fall.
The woodpeckers and nuthatches remind me of the guy with the little pitch pipe. Only they're trying to make sure everyone is as off tune as they are, doing their own thing. (And occasionally one of them throws in a little drumming.)
There are other songs from other birds that in my ignorance I cannot identify. I need to get Mom outside to hear them. She'll know them all.
It is a cacophony. But put them all together: robincardinalredwingedblackbirdcowbirdchickadeebluejaycrowmourningdovewoodpeckernuthatchgoldfinch and it will quicken your step, lift your spirits, and put a song in your heart.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Expectations
Normally, I'm not a fan of expectations. They tend to produce disappointment, criticism of others--including God sometimes, self-pity, and other such delights. I think the problem is that expectations are usually self-centered. Just my opinion--sadly from personal experience.
But when it comes to my acres, I love expectations. Now that spring is on its way--hey, the red-winged blackbirds are back and the crocus are starting--I walk each day brimming with expectations. It starts with all the things I planted last fall and the anticipation of their first appearance on Iten Acres. I have hundreds of bulbs and plants that I have expectations for. And, yes, weirdo that I am, I can pretty much tell you where each one of them was planted. So, as I walk, my eyes are searching out those areas for signs of life. Beauty is on the way! In fact, there are already "new" crocus, daffodils, and hyacinths announcing their arrival.
The trees and shrubs that I planted last year are easier to see, obviously. Some of them were planted earlier in the fall and were alive when I planted them. Some of them were planted late in the fall and were dormant when planted. Both of these, too, are being checked on every walk--especially those that are early spring "arrivals"--forsythia, for example. There will be a lot of fist pumping this spring as some of these plants show that they have made it through their first winter and are settling in to making the acres home. Hey, if some guy can pump his fist because he puts a little golf ball in a hole, I can pump my fist when new beauty graces my property--a feast for old eyes.
In addition, there are expectations that produce a little more "tension" and a little bigger fist pumping, Lord willing. These are the plants that showed signs of struggling last year. The question in my mind is did they use the winter to enhance their case for survival or did the winter win, and they are lost? I am walking and watching, walking and watching, walking and watching. Expectations.
I am also eagerly keeping my eye on the mailman. I have new flowers and shrubs coming! I already know exactly where I plan to plant them. (Not that it won't change.) They have double expectations. When will they get here, and will they "take" to Iten's Acres?
The last expectation I have concerns my favorite flowers the iris. It has been my experience here that iris take two years to bloom. The first year they just tease you by growing huge and green, but no blooms. Yet, every once in awhile one of them will defy tradition and bloom the first year. Of course, on the negative side some that bloomed the year before decide to take a year off, and some appear to be on the three year plan--or more. (Sound of old man weeping) I will be watching closely. I have new ones, two year ones, took a year off ones, and moved ones that are all on the expectation list. May can't get here quickly enough. That's iris time.
So, if you'd like to know the outcome of my expectations, you'll just need to keep an eye on the Facebook pictures from Iten's Acres for "the rest of the story"! I know flowers are "no big deal," everybody has them--well, most people anyway. But what I love about them is the beauty that can be found in the "ordinary." There is nothing more extraordinary than the ordinary. God's hand is everywhere in small things. Yes, His presence can be evidenced in the littlest things. And that's where I love to find Him. I'll be walking and watching every day, and when He reveals His beauty my heart will sing and my fist may pump. And I won't worry the least about who thinks I'm a fool. God will be in my heart.
But when it comes to my acres, I love expectations. Now that spring is on its way--hey, the red-winged blackbirds are back and the crocus are starting--I walk each day brimming with expectations. It starts with all the things I planted last fall and the anticipation of their first appearance on Iten Acres. I have hundreds of bulbs and plants that I have expectations for. And, yes, weirdo that I am, I can pretty much tell you where each one of them was planted. So, as I walk, my eyes are searching out those areas for signs of life. Beauty is on the way! In fact, there are already "new" crocus, daffodils, and hyacinths announcing their arrival.
The trees and shrubs that I planted last year are easier to see, obviously. Some of them were planted earlier in the fall and were alive when I planted them. Some of them were planted late in the fall and were dormant when planted. Both of these, too, are being checked on every walk--especially those that are early spring "arrivals"--forsythia, for example. There will be a lot of fist pumping this spring as some of these plants show that they have made it through their first winter and are settling in to making the acres home. Hey, if some guy can pump his fist because he puts a little golf ball in a hole, I can pump my fist when new beauty graces my property--a feast for old eyes.
In addition, there are expectations that produce a little more "tension" and a little bigger fist pumping, Lord willing. These are the plants that showed signs of struggling last year. The question in my mind is did they use the winter to enhance their case for survival or did the winter win, and they are lost? I am walking and watching, walking and watching, walking and watching. Expectations.
I am also eagerly keeping my eye on the mailman. I have new flowers and shrubs coming! I already know exactly where I plan to plant them. (Not that it won't change.) They have double expectations. When will they get here, and will they "take" to Iten's Acres?
The last expectation I have concerns my favorite flowers the iris. It has been my experience here that iris take two years to bloom. The first year they just tease you by growing huge and green, but no blooms. Yet, every once in awhile one of them will defy tradition and bloom the first year. Of course, on the negative side some that bloomed the year before decide to take a year off, and some appear to be on the three year plan--or more. (Sound of old man weeping) I will be watching closely. I have new ones, two year ones, took a year off ones, and moved ones that are all on the expectation list. May can't get here quickly enough. That's iris time.
So, if you'd like to know the outcome of my expectations, you'll just need to keep an eye on the Facebook pictures from Iten's Acres for "the rest of the story"! I know flowers are "no big deal," everybody has them--well, most people anyway. But what I love about them is the beauty that can be found in the "ordinary." There is nothing more extraordinary than the ordinary. God's hand is everywhere in small things. Yes, His presence can be evidenced in the littlest things. And that's where I love to find Him. I'll be walking and watching every day, and when He reveals His beauty my heart will sing and my fist may pump. And I won't worry the least about who thinks I'm a fool. God will be in my heart.
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