The Blessing of Grace

Since coming to the farm, I have learned to expect God to reveal Himself and even to speak through the creation in which I live immersed.  It is not something I have always been able to do.  I suppose I was too busy with work and too bounded by my view of what someone like me built that blocked my view of the distant horizon.  It could be said that the world was a much smaller place without an unhindered view of the sprawling creation.  Not everyone can live in the country as I do.  Not everyone would be content with a town with one caution light and the post office trip being one of the more exciting things of the day.   

I count being here during this season of my life as a gift of grace.  I am privileged and blessed.  What I experience each day I wish could be the daily anticipation of everyone, but then as this old country boy could not be content in the urban world, neither could the urban dwellers be content with life here.  When I first came here, I must confess to not seeing things around me as I see them now.  It took a word from the Lord which told me "Pay Attention" and then learning to see and hear with eyes of the heart.  

What has truly surprised me about the whole journey is not just the way God has been making Himself know in the ordinary things of the creation, but also the way He has made me more attentive to people.  I still have miles to go in laying flair ups of prejudice, impatience with others, and judgement passing in the rear view mirror.  About all I can honestly say is that I am not where I was, nor am I where I hope to be, but to remember the words of the Apostle Paul, "(I) strain forward to what lies ahead,..I press on..." (Philippians 3:13). As I do, I am so very grateful for God's grace.