Unexpected Bliss

 

One day, it came into my heart to go forth and take photos the following morning.  With this idea firmly planted in my mind, I made ready my chariot, and prepared my image boxes.  Silver halide plates being in short supply, I made do with something called a Digital Camera.

Last of all, I studied the stars and planets and in consultation with Google, found that the sun would arise at 5:59 am, give or take 45 seconds.  Thus I went to bed feeling prepared for my Final Assault on the summit.

I arose early the following morning, as was my wont.  I set a device called a GPS to direct me to a location where I felt certain the sun would not only rise, but I would be able to capture a Good Image of it doing so.

I went, not really paying attention to path wither I went.  Lo, it came to pass that eventually my GPS said, "You have arrived," but when I peered from the windows of my carriage, I saw not the sights I had expected to see.  Though I was not Nowhere, the Somewhere where I was happened to be in the middle of a housing development.  Somewhat like Yankee Doodle, I would not see the sun come up, there were so many houses.

It was with a sad heart that I made my way towards my home.  It was an early morning wasted and all because technology had led me astray.

On my way back to my place of abode, I came around a corner to see a beautiful spot where the rising sun radiated through the mist.  A little while later I saw another Promising Spot and once again, I paused to capture a few photos.

When I arrived back at my dwelling place, I had different photos than I had expected, but I was still pleased.

I pondered the experience I had on my early morning jaunt.  Many have been the times that the Journey of Life did not grant me the blessings that I was expecting and yet, I received other, unexpected blessings along my way.  Perchance, if I was honest, the Unexpected Blessings were better than those I had planned to receive.

Solomon said, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding and He shall direct thy paths."

Trusting means allow our Heavenly Father to guide our paths.  So often when we do so, He turneth expected blessing into unexpected bliss.  For, He will turn the Greatest Darkness into a stabbing, joy-filled Light.

That is just the kind of God He is.

Home Made Pop Tarts?

 

One day, it transpired that as I scrolled through Facebook, I came upon a recipe for Home Made Pop Tarts.  I studied the recipe with much care.  Within the safety of my home, I have "cooked" Pop Tarts and it seemed to me that there wasn't explanation needed -- only a toaster.

This recipe was different and seemed to be a not-so-ancient attempt to mimic a breakfast "food" that is available at most grocery stores.  I noted in my studies that it seemed to involve multiple steps and much effort.  The preparation time, as indicated by the recipe was roughly three and a half hours.

Mayhap the designer of this recipe did not truly understand the allure of the mystical entree of the breakfast table, the Pop Tart.  It is within the Realm of Possibility that this great chef did not comprehend that the whole purpose of Pop Tarts can be summed up in one word:  Speedy.

I am More than Certain that if it took three and a half hours to prepare a Pop Tart, even though one got the same artificial blueberry or cherry cough syrup flavors, fewer people would eat them.  For the question that arises most often with a meal is not what is healthy, but rather what we have time for.  Nine out of ten times quick beats healthy.

As I pondered on this subject, I came to the realization that one quality that is lacking in our society is Patience.  There is a veritable Horde of people who would rather eat fast garbage than to take the time to prepare something truly Worth Eating.

I make a feeble attempt to raise vegetables in a garden plot.  If there is one thing that takes time and requires patience, it is the process of raising food in a garden.  I planted my tomato plants from seed three months ago and it still will be two or three weeks before I begin to see red fruits on those vines.

It would be wise for us to attempt things that require patience.  There are many things that have great worth -- enough that taking time and effort and patience to bring them to pass is worthwhile.

Of course, not everything is worth investing the time in either.  I know that when we get our first tomatoes and green beans, the time I have invested in our garden will be worth it.

I'm not so sure about the investment of three and a half hours in making Home Made Pop Tarts...

Crowds and Cold Weather

 

One day, around the time of the Eastertide, the Waldrons of Campbell County, Virginia entered their minivan and embarked for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  For, they had heard rumors that Daniel Boone had found somewhere thereabouts, a pass through the mountains into the land beyond. 

While there, they saw neither Hide nor Hair of Mr. Boone (although they did spend time in a county named after him).  They saw plenty of Other Folk though.

For one day, while there, they went to the Zoological Garden of Cincinnati.  It was a lovely day and they found there over 100,000 Tulips blooming in various shades of the rainbow.  If they were not at their Prime Beauty, they were awfully close.

As they passed through and saw Meerkats and Giraffes, Gorillas and Malaysian Tigers, the father of the family's melancholic spirit raised its head.  “This would a lot more enjoyable without all these people,” he thought morosely.  For, in some places the family found it hard to navigate due to the Press of People.

The next day dawned chilly and windy, with a temperature of 7 degrees Celsius.  (Most temperatures sound colder when stated in Celsius -- beyond which scientists for some reason use the scale.)  On this day, they made their way to the Ark Encounter.  Whether it was because of the weather, or because they had heard that a grumpy man was going to be in attendance, there were not many people there.

Still, the father's melancholic spirit spoke up.  For, it told him that it should have been Sunny and Seventy Degrees, just as had it had been the day before.  Truly, it was a cold and dreary day.

At perhaps this point, or mayhap a bit after, he realized that the problem was not the crowds or the weather.  The issue was inside of him.

I contemplated the plight of this father.  He has much in common with me and whilst I am Upbeat at times, there have been a plenitude of moments where I could only see the Dark Cloud, even though the Silver Lining was two miles wide.

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatsoever ye do in word, or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

Discouragement comes when I focus on the negative things, while gratitude comes when I realize that I am blessed by God, regardless of the temperature.

As a child of God, I am blessed every day – even if one day I end up at the zoo on a cold, rainy day that was also Really Crowded.

Feeding the Five Thousand

 

“Art thou certain?”  I whispered to the fair maiden who was sitting beside me.

“Yes, Honey,” Elaine replied with a knowledgeable tone in her voice.

“I have attempted to number the people in church this morning,” I whispered a little louder.  “And even after removing my shoes and stockings it is more than I can count.  I am afeared that there is not sufficient food for such a multitude,” I finished in a slightly anguished voice.

My wife remained serene.  “We have plenty of repast for all of these and more besides,” she told me flatly.  “Stop thy worrying!”

I remember well that Sunday, for we were one of the families responsible for the "Luck of the Pots."  I found the whole experience Nerve Wracking.  For what if it came time to open the line of food and three Professional Wrestlers with voracious appetites had come to visit and as visitors, they went through the line first.  Perhaps women and children would go hungry.  Perhaps they would Starve.

Fortunately, as usual, my bride was right.  There were no wrestlers and there was plenty of food.

Within the Gospels is found a story about Jesus and a group of 5,000 hungry people.

Of course, the reasonable thing to do in such a situation (and the one that I would have done) would have been to send the people away to the nearest McDonald’s to deal with their hunger.  Perhaps as a backup plan, Jesus could have turned local stones into bread.

Jesus did neither of these things.

Instead, Jesus was presented with five loaves and three fish that a boy had brought with him.  With that coarse bread and dried fish, he proceeded to feed the multitude.

God hath no limitation.  He can do all things without the meager help that humans can offer.  One who can Create the world from Nothing needeth nothing from frail Children of Dust.

Despite this, He chooseth Two-Legged fallible humans to perform His will.  Sometimes He hath chosen someone like me to do a task.  I look at it and wonder, just as the five loves might have, how I can accomplish such a task.  Surely, God Almighty would be wise to use someone more talented and courageous.

The miracle is not that Jesus fed 5,000 people.  The miracle was that Jesus chose to use the offering of a small boy to meet that need.  It is told that not only was that gift sufficient for the need, there was Plenty Left Over.

This is not to say that we will feel strong enough for every situation, but we need not despair.  God has chosen us and He will give us the Ability to meet His purposes, if we are willing.

Even a purpose as crazy as feeding Professional Wrestlers with a tiny bowl of soup.