Holy Trash

Just before dark got here last night one of those roaring thunderstorms thundered in with enough lightning to cause the weather people to send out all kinds of warnings.  Despite the weather warnings the storm slipped around north of here and in its aftermath the grass was hardly wet.  What came as a surprise as dark finally came was a power outage.  It was only when the trucks pulled up here on the farm that I realized the reason for the outage was a huge limb that had fallen out of the top of one of the pecan trees.  When it came down, it took the power line with it.    

It took the guys from the power company about an hour getting the power back up.  It will take much longer to get the wood debris cleaned up.  But, when the chainsaw work is done I will have a good supply of firewood for the woodstove here in the house.  It may be hard to imagine cold weather in the middle of July, but it will come and when it does I will look back with gratitude for the wood that made its way to the ground on a hot July evening. Most folks would want nothing to do with cutting up a fallen limb for firewood when there is a theromostat in the house which can be adjusted to create warmth on a cold night.  But, there is something gratifying about taking what is given and putting it to use for a life sustaining purpose.  

What looks like trash to be hauled off  to some has great value to the woodstove and fireplace people.  There may be another power outage this winter when the ground is hard with cold and on that day the gift of this day will be thought of us as great treasure.  The limb on the ground is not something to be wasted.  Everything God brings into being is holy for it bears the imprint of His creating hand and this is even true of what some might say has no value and is no more than trash.