I started counting during my morning walk today. I was enjoying the impressive neighborhood "garden show" along my favorite walking route, and suddenly, it wasn't enough just to look and savor; I had to know just how many kinds of plants I was seeing. I needed to quantify this. (Don't ask me why, it's just how my brain works!)
And so I counted.
60.
60 types of cultivated plants in the space of one-half city block.
60 shapes. 60 textures. 60 shades of green. 60 trees, shrubs, grasses and flowering things of all kinds. 60 didn't even include different varieties of the same plant.
I was genuinely astounded.
To think that the wonderful climate of the Northwest can sustain such a variety of flora in one small space amazed me. But I was even more amazed at the mind and power of the loving God who created these, not only to be useful contributors to our environment, but to be a feast for the human eye and signposts pointing us to Him. I was humbled in pondering that this is but one MINISCULE demonstration of His ingenuity, creativity, resourcefulness and wisdom.
I finished the rest of my walk looking differently at the beautiful morning around me. I heard the birds more. Enjoyed the blue sky more. Took note of the many shades of hydrangeas more. Pardon me for sounding extremely corny, but it's exactly what I did. And later this afternoon, Psalm 100 completed the happy contemplation of my 60 morning glimpses of God:
"Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
IT IS HE WHO MADE US, AND WE ARE HIS..."
Amen and amen. :)
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Learning
Thanks to those of you who responded to my last post by sharing what you're learning. There's some pretty big stuff there.
To be honest, I've been dragging my feet a little about sharing what I'm learning. My sandwich recipe (thanks to Sue) is not so hard to pass along (wheat or whole-grain toast, dijon or regular mustard, avocado slices, turkey, fresh spinach, cheese of your choice, tomato, salt and pepper, and serve open-faced). Yummmmm. I can also easily tell you that "abseil" is pronounced "ob-zile" (go figure) and is a mountain-climbing term meaning "a method of descending a very steep cliff by means of a rope secured at the summit". And without too much trouble, I can share a challenging verse from my study of the biblical Book of Proverbs (chapter 20:5 "The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out").
But that's where the simple part ends.
All the things mentioned in the comments resonate with me right now: living without fear of regrets, extending grace, waiting with patience and perseverance, and getting to know God because He's God. Yet, I'm realizing that so much of my "summer school" this year has been intensely personal and not fit for consumption in such a public forum as this. It will suffice to say, however, that I have no doubt about the graciousness of my God and His unfathomable love for me. A love immense enough to mold and shape and trim and start again when necessary. He never gives up, even when there is oh, so much for me to learn.
A number of years ago, I came across the following poem in a fantastic book that I think every Christian should read. The book is entitled "Spiritual Leadership", author J. Oswald Sanders. The poem itself is untitled and the author is unknown. Too bad that he or she doesn't get credit for this gem. I've returned to this literary piece many times to help bring perspective on the learning God is facilitating in my life and what He has ahead for me. I know this little poem can't explain everything, but it sure makes me think and hope it does the same for you.
When God wants to drill a man
And thrill a man
And skill a man,
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world should be amazed,
Watch His methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses
And with every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out -
God knows what He's about!
Although some may find these words to be cruel or discouraging, I have lived them, and understand. The "trial shapes of clay that only God understands"...it's true. So often we're in transition, can't fathom the finished product, and hope that this "trial shape" isn't it. How awesome to know that God does know the next stage as well as the necessity of the transitional one(s). The idea of God inducing us to "try His splendor out" - a truly inspired picture. He does invite us or put us in positions that compel us to do so. So often I think my Lord is crying out for me to let Him show His splendor. And He does. And I am never disappointed.
I know this has been a long, long post. So good for you if you've made it this far. My daughter said yesterday "We should keep learning and growing until we die." May her tribe increase! Keep learning, keep growing. Keep enjoying the sandwich recipes and other incidental moments of learning that add color to the tapestry of life. Keep letting the Lord have His way with you, or try His splendor out for the first time, if you haven't already.
Happy learning.
To be honest, I've been dragging my feet a little about sharing what I'm learning. My sandwich recipe (thanks to Sue) is not so hard to pass along (wheat or whole-grain toast, dijon or regular mustard, avocado slices, turkey, fresh spinach, cheese of your choice, tomato, salt and pepper, and serve open-faced). Yummmmm. I can also easily tell you that "abseil" is pronounced "ob-zile" (go figure) and is a mountain-climbing term meaning "a method of descending a very steep cliff by means of a rope secured at the summit". And without too much trouble, I can share a challenging verse from my study of the biblical Book of Proverbs (chapter 20:5 "The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out").
But that's where the simple part ends.
All the things mentioned in the comments resonate with me right now: living without fear of regrets, extending grace, waiting with patience and perseverance, and getting to know God because He's God. Yet, I'm realizing that so much of my "summer school" this year has been intensely personal and not fit for consumption in such a public forum as this. It will suffice to say, however, that I have no doubt about the graciousness of my God and His unfathomable love for me. A love immense enough to mold and shape and trim and start again when necessary. He never gives up, even when there is oh, so much for me to learn.
A number of years ago, I came across the following poem in a fantastic book that I think every Christian should read. The book is entitled "Spiritual Leadership", author J. Oswald Sanders. The poem itself is untitled and the author is unknown. Too bad that he or she doesn't get credit for this gem. I've returned to this literary piece many times to help bring perspective on the learning God is facilitating in my life and what He has ahead for me. I know this little poem can't explain everything, but it sure makes me think and hope it does the same for you.
When God wants to drill a man
And thrill a man
And skill a man,
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world should be amazed,
Watch His methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses
And with every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out -
God knows what He's about!
Although some may find these words to be cruel or discouraging, I have lived them, and understand. The "trial shapes of clay that only God understands"...it's true. So often we're in transition, can't fathom the finished product, and hope that this "trial shape" isn't it. How awesome to know that God does know the next stage as well as the necessity of the transitional one(s). The idea of God inducing us to "try His splendor out" - a truly inspired picture. He does invite us or put us in positions that compel us to do so. So often I think my Lord is crying out for me to let Him show His splendor. And He does. And I am never disappointed.
I know this has been a long, long post. So good for you if you've made it this far. My daughter said yesterday "We should keep learning and growing until we die." May her tribe increase! Keep learning, keep growing. Keep enjoying the sandwich recipes and other incidental moments of learning that add color to the tapestry of life. Keep letting the Lord have His way with you, or try His splendor out for the first time, if you haven't already.
Happy learning.
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