Peace & Faith vs. Apathy & Hopelessness

I’ve learned to relish my times out of the hustle and bustle of current events…it comes rarely enough.  There are times when I envy nature and it’s march to what seems a different beat then the human race.  Wildlife seems to be doing what It’s done for ages oblivious to the things that now seem to make humanity tick.  Man is so tied to happiness and the pursuit thereof but the Bible speaks of peace that passes all understanding.  Happiness is related to happening…what’s going on with you while the peace of God relates to something beyond what’s happening and what we understand with our natural mind.  I believe we all need that in the fiery trials we endurebut also in every day life.  Apathy is something we see a lot of today but I don’t believe this is anything like the carelessness of nature.  Nature’s lesson is that things are operating by a divine planwhile apathy is a surrender to the place of not caring.  I prefer a surrender to the Hand of Providencerather then giving up to the place where I don’t care about anything anymore.  We all walk the road of lifehow we walk it is up to us.  I desire a peace beyond what I can understand…a peace I can dwell in no matter the challenges of the day.  This is a spring not only I can drink from but others can be nourished by.  Don’t become wearing in well doing my friends.  The door may appear locked tightbut the Bible says if we knock it will be opened unto us.  Rust may decay natural thingsbut faith is a hedge and a protection when all else fails.  Here we can dwell and no safety when all appears lost.  A used to think the windows of heaven were gilded and beyond my reach but now I view them to be as reachable as the faith God has already given me.  We are not locked out of gracenor have the ages corrupted God’s tried and true covenant with us.  Faith is beyond a choice…it’s a binding covenant that holds me together.  Faith and peace are in a place where our covenant to God is tethered to His grace.  Whatever prickly situation you find yourself in I pray you find the blossom of grace that is always there.

Sometimes…

…it’s really necessary to go beyond obstacles or things that are intimidating to see the treasures that lie beyond.  Sometimes there are signs that warn danger but if you’re bold you can witness real wonders out therebut it takes some courage and willingness.  We were fortunate in that there were no fires at the time so mostly restricted travel applied to vehicles not foot travel.  I love the mix of farmland and mountains.  The flowers aren’t really exotic to some perhaps but I love them none the less.  The roads were restricted to most motorized travel but I don’t mind one bit.  Solitude in such environments does something to me.  I always look to God whom I believe created it all and am humbled by it.  The Montana panorama always takes my breath away.  I know hay rolls aren’t exotic either but I just love seeing them so much.  Blue Bells abound near these mountain farms.  Last years floods washed away many roads but they had repaired that this yearwhich allowed access to areas we couldn’t easily see last year.  White Tail Deer often frequent these fieldsbut even empty they capture my heart.  The view just outside the cabin is magnificent too.  There’s a fantastic pine tree that I love to stand under where I love to just look up.  The breeze blowing through the tree, the sights and sounds…ah!  The pine cones not only look wonderfulbut provide fuel for the fire.  We’ve witnessed bears here many timesbut fortunately never had a dangerous encounter.  So many trails to takeand such amazing territory to see.  Where will we go and which path is the one to take?  Like the burning bush in the Bibleyou have to turn aside and be willing to ask:  “What’s that?” and be willing to leave your comfort zone.

Stillwater Series 2013

Having finally finished the series on Florida I’m moving on to our cabin stay on the Stillwater River.  This year I could have used another trip because there’s no peace like there is in the mountains in our state.  The weather has been very erratic lately with jumps from 59 to the mid-nineties predicted through this week…this is another signal of fall’s approach…that and the daylight not lasting as long.  The scene in our backyard remains beautiful to me.  The storms that are around us have been fairly intense but mostly it hasn’t been a bother to us fortunately.  The evening skies have some very nice colors to enjoyand the passing of these storms cools things down in the evening which is nice after a hot dayand it provides a scenic backdrop when the day is done.  The Montana evening panorama:  .  I still am amazed at how time flies once the 4th of July is donebut going for our cabin stay slows it down some…just once more as the summer melts to fall.  We actually bring our Salamander since he’s a resident of Montana and needs to special amenities to survive.  Here is almost ready to go, wading in his pool just one more time before we head out.  Our peppers have been doing very well and so we arranged to have them watered when we were gone.  These are banana peppers and are not hot at all in fact, they taste some like bell peppers.  The smaller ones are much more fiery but many are still green.  The potted garden of Eden on our sunken porch that leads to the garden remains one of my favorite spots.  I love the variety of colors in these flowers.  They have done very well this yearbut somehow I always prefer the wild flowers we see around the cabin.  These have faced the harsh climates that come in the mountains and yet still thrive.  It’s been a cicada year for us but the variety in the mountains are different in appearance and sound they make.  Our salamander liked them for entirely different reasons…breakfast, lunch and dinner!  Blue Bells are the star of the show to me.  For now I will give just a taste of the pictures to come.  The sign says road closed…but just for now…next week we’ll go beyond and see what the road holds.