Real Fruit of the Cosmos

There are times when I sit among the great crowd of the fruit of my loins and momentarily live in ecstasy at the wonder of it all.  In this cold dark cosmos with its unfathomable expanses of deadly time and space, I am living on the greatest Ark of Salvation (earth) ever conceived and brought forth 17 living creatures that are marvelous beyond comprehension.  Not dolphins or stars, not lions or iPads or galaxies strung with cosmic dust but living human beings.  There is no accounting for that miracle given to me or for the love that calls forth a continual ‘life sacrificing willingness in quiet peace’ in the middle of all their living, laughing, being—called a Family Reunion.  I AM i praise YOU!!!

Oh The Peace of Brilliance

There is an underlying brilliance to this world that definitely underscores Eden’s perfection.  The sun is 92 million miles away but its light and warmth arrive here in harmony for us.  It might be a little too hot or a little too cold but there is no denying its underlying perfection.  Or the Bluebird is as beautiful a creature as could be imagined but it is still aggressively hostile to any other Bluebird.  Something that beautiful should be perfectly kind.  And animals are not scared of other animals.  A rabbit is perfectly fine eating beside a deer, both within a few feet of each other, but let me walk out and both will flee at the very sound of me.  We should be able to walk over, pick up the rabbit, hold it and enjoy one another.  There is a coming Kingdom where all things will be put right, where Bluebirds, bunny rabbits, and humans will all commune under a perfectly set sun.  Fairytales are not tales but glimpses into the reality of fantasy that we call Heaven.       

Fair Haven

America The Fragile

Just a cursory reading of the Minor Prophets and you realize how fragile is any one country and how all-powerful God is over all the earth and all its countries.  As an example, Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, was spared by God once, read Jonah, but about 70 years later was destroyed by God along with Assyria.  This may not sound important but believe me, it is when you know the backstory.  Here is a commentary; 

“Nothing then seemed more improbable than that the capital (Nineveh) of so vast an empire (Assyria), a city of sixty miles around with a wall 100 feet high and thick enough that three chariots could go abreast on them, and with 1500 towers, should be so totally destroyed that its site is with difficulty discovered.”—Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary.  

All humans, Americans including, should meditate on this and act accordingly. 

 

 

A Fair Haven to Know God

Fair Haven is about as quiet and peaceful a spot that can be found on earth.  The screeching dull meanness of media and contemporary culture does not exist here.  I imagine about 345 days a year the river is practically empty and the dominant sounds are those made by birds, breeze, and flutter trees.  It is filled with way-off views, wildness, and the productivity of solitude.  It is one of the few places on my earth that God’s voice is clear and unrivaled and is always still and soft. 

And Life Goes On

And life goes on.  Yesterday morning as I walked down our hall I looked at all my children’s pictures that lined the wall, all of them taken when they were babies and small children.  Once again I was shocked at how brief a time it has seemed for them to become adults with their own children.  Life moves on.  Yesterday evening I stood with my graduates and thought of how I have sowed into them and now our ships were parting probably never to cross again.  Life goes on.  This morning I read the ancient story of Jonah and his ordeal with Nineveh. He could not know that his simple walking warning would spare the “great city” even though some 70 years later it would be destroyed anyway.  And then I read J. I. Packer’s Knowing God and his take on Ecclesiastes; do good where you are and let God take care of the universe and everyone in it.  Life goes on.

I've Lost People

I have lost dear people in my life, people I have laughed and cried with, those that have carried Betty and me through some of the darkest days of our lives and have been there when salvation finally came.  What is so sorrowful is they just disappeared, one day they were there and the next day gone, no word, no see you later been nice knowing you, just a disappearance.  What did we do?  Can we not make up?  Is there nothing that seeks a farewell, a going away meal, a smile, a pat on the back, and “let’s stay in touch!”?  For my part it was great knowing you, you each added significantly to our lives, you were important, meaningful people in a world where those kinds of people are hard to find.  Happy trails, I do hope ours cross again.  Sincerely Lee 

Bear Me Away On Your Snow White Wings

I shall bear a casket away today.  Someone has gone on home.  Yesterday a human so torn by grief his voice failed, forcing words out as if removing his heart from his chest with his bare hands, told me his lover was hopeless.  I hung up the phone.  I pressed my hands into my head forcing the tears to seep out in the space I was denying them.  Another may be called home.  I cursed death and sorrow and knew one day he would get his.  My lover drove me to the country and mile after open country mile the corn was up, tiny green lines making the curving of the ripe earth visible, beauty and bounty; so miraculous I was left with only GOD.  Oh GOD help my neighbor bear their lover to where they are only with YOU; THE LIGHT to show them the way—like the sun raises the corn from the ground toward heaven.  GOD, You are good!  All the TIME!  You are good enough—to raise us to heaven!   

    

Take A Front Row Seat

I have finally moved outside, (moved back in this morning, 46°) into the forest filled with a great night owl, a multitude of early rising songbirds, and a fox or two.  Everyone should have a back porch in the woods.  It is like a front row to God’s studio, where all the materials are living as He continually works on making the earth.  What a résumé booster, “Earth—yes that’s me, I’m doing that.”  If we have an opportunity to visit God’s studio we should build a porch where we can constantly enjoy Him at His work.  

Me Could Be Tarzan

There is a heavy spring rain on and away off in the woods, in the dark of early morn, sings one lone bird.  Well not a song exactly, more like a single sorrowful note, repeated, in the soft rumble of the rain in my woods.  I wonder about the bird, if he could think, what explanation would he give this instinct to signal, to announce himself sentinel of the woods this wet morning.  And should I answer back, a Tarzan-like yell or a strong southern “Hey” to acknowledge and to be acknowledged?  After a moment he stopped, and suddenly I was alone for I had made no effort to let him know I heard him. He would not have known it even if I had reached out but I would have, I would have been, perhaps, a little closer to Eden and him a little closer to the coming Glory of all things made new!  

 

AWAY

One needs to get away, always to get away; to hide in the forest, beside the streams, atop the mountains—away.  Away is a wonderful destination, filled with the hope of being made new, of clearing the clutter, advancing your faith, resealing the deal.  We never quite arrive at away, it is a journey that can only end in eternity because that is where it is born, in God’s design for all of us, the beauty of away He has set in our hearts, Ecc. 3:11.  Every morning God bears me away, to clear me for His tasks today, away, away, as His Son was called away—but is returning soon.  

My lover and I found this while riding in the country, it's creative
occupants long since called away.