Remember all the stories you've heard over the years of the wife getting upset with her husband because he hasn't taken the trash out? Well, I'm on my own, and I don't have anyone to fuss at for not taking care of this chore... except for me. And believe me... it is a chore I tend to put off. I don't mind taking the trash from the kitchen to the bigger trash can out back. What I do mind is having to haul all of my trash to the local dump. It's called 'living in the country.' I could pay to have someone do this for me, but why do that when I can (and have for 10 years) do it myself? It's generally not pleasant... especially in warm weather and especially when I have put this off too long, and I can't quite fit it all in the trunk of my car. (Um, yep... inside the car with me it goes!) Mmm. Mmm. It makes for quite a ride, let me tell you.
The interesting thing is I also take my camera. Every time. And once I've unloaded my stinky, stinky trash at the stinky, stinky dump, and I turn my car back towards home, I allow myself to hunt for the treasures I missed while breathing in the stinch of my junk. Here's what I saw today:
There were green fields on this St. Patrick's Day, so green I needed to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't in the Emerald City itself. That green filled me with renewed hope in life.
There were daffodils and brown fields of broom straw.
I caught sight of both male and female bluebirds... oh, they always take my breath away! (Hannah has said for years that if I ever wreck my car it will be thanks to bluebird watching!!)
I passed over creeks going somewhere, and a hawk who was going nowhere. He posed as I took his photograph and nodded when I told him good-bye.
There was the story yard. I always make up a new story when I pass this intriguing home. There's always some new color, some new decoration, some new something that catches my eye. Today, someone had hung plastic red apples on the apple tree. Don't you love it? I could see some dear elder out there lovingly sweet talking her tree. "Now honey, this is what apples look like. I know you can do it!"
And I happily passed the field of evergreen trees not far from my cottage. Years ago, Hannah and I came back from a trip to town and the field had been cut to the quick. Someone needed money, and the trees were it. Fortunately, they replanted, and today the pines were shouting a hallelujah!
And now I'm back home, happy and all freshened up. I couldn't help but think about Japan as I went through this exercise today. I complain about my bags of trash and the small task of taking them down a beautiful road to dispose of them. How simple. I am humbled by this little chore on this lovely day, and I pray once again for those in dire, emergency situations. I know nothing of such devastation.
Today, I pray for you, Japan. I pray you healing and hope. I pray you greens and browns and yellows... refreshment, and new life rising up bright.
I pray you blues... happiness and hope.
I pray for where you have been, where you are, and for where you are going.
I pray you courage and strength... like that hawk. Look at it all square in the eye and trust that you have it in you to find your way through.
I pray you eyes to see the small measures of beauty. I pray you the gift of being the beauty.
You have been cut to the quick, but ahh, many are the hands tending your boughs with love,
many the knee placed to the ground planting you seedlings of possibilities.
May God grant each of us grace for the task before us
and hearts made ready for the blessings.
The interesting thing is I also take my camera. Every time. And once I've unloaded my stinky, stinky trash at the stinky, stinky dump, and I turn my car back towards home, I allow myself to hunt for the treasures I missed while breathing in the stinch of my junk. Here's what I saw today:
There were green fields on this St. Patrick's Day, so green I needed to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't in the Emerald City itself. That green filled me with renewed hope in life.
There were daffodils and brown fields of broom straw.
I caught sight of both male and female bluebirds... oh, they always take my breath away! (Hannah has said for years that if I ever wreck my car it will be thanks to bluebird watching!!)
I passed over creeks going somewhere, and a hawk who was going nowhere. He posed as I took his photograph and nodded when I told him good-bye.
There was the story yard. I always make up a new story when I pass this intriguing home. There's always some new color, some new decoration, some new something that catches my eye. Today, someone had hung plastic red apples on the apple tree. Don't you love it? I could see some dear elder out there lovingly sweet talking her tree. "Now honey, this is what apples look like. I know you can do it!"
And I happily passed the field of evergreen trees not far from my cottage. Years ago, Hannah and I came back from a trip to town and the field had been cut to the quick. Someone needed money, and the trees were it. Fortunately, they replanted, and today the pines were shouting a hallelujah!
And now I'm back home, happy and all freshened up. I couldn't help but think about Japan as I went through this exercise today. I complain about my bags of trash and the small task of taking them down a beautiful road to dispose of them. How simple. I am humbled by this little chore on this lovely day, and I pray once again for those in dire, emergency situations. I know nothing of such devastation.
Today, I pray for you, Japan. I pray you healing and hope. I pray you greens and browns and yellows... refreshment, and new life rising up bright.
I pray you blues... happiness and hope.
I pray for where you have been, where you are, and for where you are going.
I pray you courage and strength... like that hawk. Look at it all square in the eye and trust that you have it in you to find your way through.
I pray you eyes to see the small measures of beauty. I pray you the gift of being the beauty.
You have been cut to the quick, but ahh, many are the hands tending your boughs with love,
many the knee placed to the ground planting you seedlings of possibilities.
May God grant each of us grace for the task before us
and hearts made ready for the blessings.
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