Char's Blog
Walking Thoughts
Thanks to our most recent family addition, Buddy, I have spent significant time taking long walks through various parks in recent weeks. In addition to improving my physical well-being (aka much needed weight loss) these times together in the outdoors have provided ample opportunity for thought, reflection and meditation.
As I ambled along the pathway earlier this week I had a moment where I realized that I had not (in my teen years) expected to work outside my home as much as I actually have done. I would not, in those days, have been able to describe what I would do, I simply expected to live a stay-at-home lifestyle. This notion likely was a direct result of my mother being a stay-at-home mom through my growing up years.
The penny drops, "Life is much more of a daily grind than you ever dreamt possible". Where I once worked in the expectation that what I did was, or would be, significant and important, I now recognize that my life, my efforts and labour, is but a bit of dust. (For those old enough to remember I would warn you not to think "Dust in the Wind" but unfortunately it is probably too late - how do you rid your mind of a song that you don't want to hear?)
A newly fallen red maple leaf catches my eye and I stop to pick it up from the pathway. It is so bright, so full of blazing glory, it brings such awe of the Creator to the beholder. I walk on, holding the leaf and slowly I piece together an image of life. The entire existance of this leaf has consisted of taking in carbon dioxide and other toxins from the environment around it and releasing life-giving oxygen. Over and over each day the leaf works to bring life to the place where it lives. The work is small, repetitive; it largely goes unnoticed and the solidary leaf makes but a miniscule difference to the world around it. Then, as the winter approaches, cold snatches from the leaf the very substance it requires to do it's work. Ability to function, to work, to live is seeping away. It is then, in the throws of its dying moments, that glorious colour bursts upon it's surface.
Small, repetitive, daily living that, at best, will breathe life-giving love into toxic places, that is the work that the Creator designed. The location is inconsequential really. The blaze of glory is reserved for the Creator alone and, to the world around us, is often seen best when our living and doing is no more.
Am I content with the Master's design?
She Blogs! WOW! It must be Christmas, or something....How I have missed your voice!
As always, Charlene, I thoroughly enjoy your insight and wisdom.
I wish I had your gift of being able to verbalize so well what The Lord has placed in your heart.
Yea walking is good but jogging could be better. You'd burn up more calories.
Walking vs jogging is like the tortoise and the hare - both reach the goal if you stick with it.
my god, charlene, hope you had happy thoughts while walking with buddy....glad that buddy is still with you guys....did you put buddy through doggie training?....
my dear friend.....you don't need to lose weight - just be happy the way you are - cause god's happy the way he made you.....
drop me a line if you want - would be glad to hear from you....
You may not blog often ... but you blog!
May: Saying that God made you the way you are when you're overweight could be a cop out though. We gotta steward our temple and all.
Jim,
I don't think that anyone would suggest that we are not stewards of the temple that God has created in us. Both now, and in the past, you express strong interest in maintaining the physical condition of our bodies. This is a good thing when balanced with the recognition that it is the ongoing discipline of our soul that should receive our greatest attention.
Likely you are not aware of May's requirement of a wheelchair for mobility. May has had to come to terms with how God has made her body to an extent unknown to able-bodied people. That she is able to articulate an appreciation for God's creation in the midst of her situation reflects a tremendous discipline of her soul.
Perhaps we both have something to learn from her?
What a good posting. I found this by a referral from Michael Haykin's blog-site. I was reminded by your posting of this poem by George Herbert. Dave Chalkley
The Elixir.
Teach me, my God and King,
In all thing Thee to see,
And what I do in any thing,
To do it as for Thee.
Not rudely, as a beast,
To run into an action;
But still to make Thee prepossest,
And give it His perfection.
A man that looks on glass,
On it may stay his eye;
Or if he pleaseth, through it pass,
And then the heav'n espy.
All may of Thee partake:
Nothing can be so mean,
Which with his tincture (for Thy sake)
Will not grow bright and clean.
A servant with this clause
Makes drudgery divine:
Who sweeps a room, as for Thy laws,
Makes that and th' action fine.
This is the famous stone
That turneth all to gold:
For that which God doth touch and own
Cannot for less be told.
George Herbert (1593-1633)
beautiful poem - thanks David