The wind. The clouds. The change. The turning. How I love it.
I spent a glorious afternoon yesterday watching, feeling, praying, loving the wonder that is our God. The turning of the season was a thing of beauty. I tried to document it so that I would always remember.
Before the turning. Sunny, humid, 85 degrees fahrenheit, still.The gathering clouds of the approaching cold front. Occasional breeze, humid air, 85 degrees F.
Approaching cold front, gusty winds, temperature drops to 75 degrees
This morning, breezy, beautiful, 50 degrees Fahrenheit
I pray that you know the height and depth, the strength, the force, the power of Christ’s love for you. He made this beautiful world, for you. He made beautiful plants and animals, for you. He made laughter and sunshine and wind, for you. He went to the cross and paid for every one of yours and my sins. He is waiting by the right hand of God, for you.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. The turning.
Scene: Writer is sitting at computer, working on in-progress novel.
Rising Action: Said writer decides to go online to research a portion of the history.
Climax, and also falling action: The research continues for two hours, as said writer finds so many interesting facts, contradictory issues, and related stories.
Conclusion: Writer is tired of sitting at the computer. Calls it a day after only writing two paragraphs on novel.
This was yesterday. Hopefully, it will not be today.
If any of you have any helpful tips to avoid these research rabbit holes, I am all ears.
I found a few blessed moments of quiet yesterday afternoon on my front porch. (And can I just say that I would love to hug the inventor of front porches? 🙂 )
The things I saw in the quiet:
– Green, green everywhere. So many different shades, so many different shapes. The leaves seem to be riotously enjoying their greenness before the start of autumn.
-The first three leaves that had fallen from the trees in the cooler air. They lay on the porch looking shocked and a little indignant for their too early demise.
-A male and female cardinal chasing each other from the dogwood to a neighboring elm.
-My fuzzy cockapoo enjoying himself and looking for blue tailed skinks. (One of his favorite pastimes)
-Spiders spinning webs furiously. This brought a certain amount of consternation in me, as I daily try to keep them off the porch. But I had to admire their tenacity, and I thought about the fact that spiders have to eat too. ;/
Things I heard in the quiet:
-Blissful times of absolute silence. Nothing.
-Occasional cars and trucks passing by on the road
-Neighbors working outside.
-Various insects and crickets
-The tapping of my dog’s toenails on the wooden porch when he tired of searching for the elusive skinks.
-My occasional sighs, as I released tensions that I was holding deep inside.
Things I felt in the quiet:
-Peace
-Hope
-Joy
-Wonder
-Excitement
-Creativity
-God’s presence
Thanks for reading this far. I encourage you to carve out even five minutes of quiet today. See what happens. Or what doesn’t happen, which is sometimes better.
“A quiet tongue shows a wise head.” – Irish Proverb
“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.” – Anne Frank
“Truth hath a quiet breast.” – William Shakespeare
“I lived in solitude in the country and noticed how the monotony of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.” – Albert Einstein
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.”-Isaiah 30:15
Think About These Things 