Friday, August 13, 2010
Signs of Hope
I woke to the alarm blaring out the loud sounds of static. I wearily rolled over to view the time. My world still out of focus as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, "For heavens sakes, its the first week of school and Sissy's going to be late!" I jumped up and made a mad dash in order to get the youngsters ready and out the door.
I really must give myself more credit. We ended up at the school before the doors were unlocked. Instead of sitting on the asphalt play ground for another thirty minutes, I decided to kill some time with a calm drive through the country side. There is nothing quite like watching the morning sun creep over the countryside. Tranquility radiates from the tree tops while the light sprinkles splendor over the dew cloaked grass. The glimmering lights, revealing to my little world, with the most pleasurable of sights.
As the children remained still, the subtle beauty in the morning set the mood for a quiet time of reflection. Perhaps, they were in their own state of meditation or maybe they had just fell back to sleep. Either way, euphoria blew through the open windows. We were all in a state of peace on this most lovely morning.
But as I drove on, I saw signs around every corner, lurking in unfamiliar forms of both good and evil. Awe, how this brewed a bubbling dose of thought. So I reflect....
"I would be lying if I said that the state of the world doesn't lay heavy on my mind. I fret over our once so blessed nation as well as the circumstance evolving all around of our beloved world. I would be lying if I said I didn't stay awake at nights while the days tragedies unfold in my head. From the scenes of litter tossed along the road sides, to women and children being sold into slavery, the violence that's plagues our streets, wars a million miles away, poverty that is creeping into the once middle class America, to the greed that has struck wall street, and lets not forget the natural disasters, tragedies of every kind. I do lie awake at nights with worry as my companion."
But those thoughts shifted away as the Belted Galloway's in the midst of the green rolling pasture called out for my attention. I listened as the birds sang a melody that only a simple heart could discern. Peace was again restored as my truck crept to a small quiet intersection (both in the real and symbolic). Four roads, all leading somewhere. Standing to my right, a modest store adorn with simple signs of innate beauty, radiating a hope for man kind.
"I think we might be alright. Yes, perhaps everything is going to be alright after all...."
Faith in mankind is all the insurance this homesteader needs and his faithful light illuminates a path for the rest to follow... A pioneer to good will.
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Very nice post. I really like the black & White photography. My daughter favors B & W when she shoots snapshots as well. =)
ReplyDeleteLeigh,
ReplyDeleteA nice piece me dear, I know the world seems a bleak place at times but there is always hope if one takes the time to look.
Take care,
John
Great post and pics! My wife starts teaching again on the 23rd and I'll bet she'll be just as tired as the kids, haha.
ReplyDeleteI'm always wishing I had a barn so I could do something cool like this. But I don't. I can imagine your drive. Corn fields and grassy meadows. What a great way for the kids to start their day too. You're an awesome Mom, Leigh!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't take much to see the problems the world has. Especially when the darkness creeps into unsullied areas of our lives. I was on a canoe trip in Maine a few years back and as we made our way down the river, I was shocked to see all the litter that lined the river bed. Beer cans, glass, coke bottles, etc. As a species, we have not earned our keep very well on this planet. Yet, there are so many people out there, thank God, that are making a positive impact. It has to start with ourselves, I've come to believe. And it's the seemingly little things that can have the strongest effect. For example, one day I was in a foul mood and was walking through the city. Everyone I passed seemed to be wearing scowls. "No wonder I'm in a bad mood", I thought, "Everyone else is, too". But then a woman walking by smiled at me and I instantly felt better. All she had to do was smile. Probably didn't think anything of it, but she made my day better. And perhaps I made other people's days better after that by offering them smiles. I'm not saying anything you haven't heard or thought about before, I'm sure, but your post brought it out of me. Good stuff, Leigh.
ReplyDeleteAs long as there are people like you, there will always be hope. Keep strong my friend.
ReplyDeleteDear lady, you have the heart of a poet; I only wish that you had the soul of a Christian to go with it. (I believe I read that you're not "churchy", or some such thing.)That being said, I must confess that I'm between churches at the moment. But, it's not the fault of Jesus that so many of his supposed followers are such jerks.
ReplyDeleteI should clarify. I'm not a church goer but believe in god and Jesus Christ as our savior. I am not religious, but spiritual. As far as Religion/church, I don't like "institutional religion" because what I have isn't a religion but a relationship. I find that like you said some church goers can be "jerks" and more concerned with speck of dust in my eye verses the plank in their own. (Matthew (?)) I find that many people go to "church" on wed and sun. in order to wear that Christain badge on their chest. Read Matthew 6. Specificaly about praying in private.
ReplyDeleteThose are the reasons I choose to opt out of church. BUT now with all that said I know many people who need the structure of going on those wed and sun meetings in order to feel close to god or to get what every they need spiritually. Everybody has a different relationship with god... and each relationship has its own unique set of needs. :) LOL! And you thought you were opinionated! LOL Always, Thanks for the comment. :)
Well, I guess I still don't have you pegged. The line that seperates the saved from the unsaved appears so thin at times that it seems to disappear altogether. The problem is that nosey busybodies like me can only see the surface, while God sees the heart.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean about churches, though. My wife is what one local pastor calls "church damaged", deeply hurt and betrayed by the very people who should have been looking out for her. I think a couple of my posts have been about churches and religion. I'll put another up mid-week that I've been saving. (I stole the terms "post political" and "post denominational" from Philip Robinson to describe my attitudes these days.)