Wisdom From My Backyard

 Where Do You Find Wisdom?

Hi Everyone!  It's kind of been one of "those weeks."  You know what I mean.  I haven't felt my best and we had to have major work done here at the house with a replacement of our septic system and drainfield.  It has rained a lot and we have had some storms although, thankfully, nothing like some folks have had to deal with.  I have just felt a bit "blah" and this evening I decided to walk around my backyard, snap a few photos and look for some wisdom.  Why don't you walk with me? 

"But God made the earth by His power; 

He founded the world by His wisdom

And stretched out the heavens by His understanding"

Jeremiah 10:12

It's amazing how much better I feel after a bit of a walkabout in my own backyard. I find so many beautiful aspects of nature to look at as I walk around. I am reminded of my many blessings and of the many things for which I am thankful. The idea of gratitude has come up a lot in my devotionals this week and sometimes I forget to be thankful. How is it possible to forget such a thing? 

The old proverb says, "A rolling stone gathers no moss."  These stones in my rock garden certainly haven't been rolling as they are covered in moss! I love how pretty and green the moss looks. It adds to the overall patena of these stones and reminds me of the many years since The Mr. built this garden for me soon after we moved in and we have lived in this place for over 18 years now. We must be covered with invisible moss at this point for we have lovingly labored on this land and in our home all these years and our roots run deep with love for our home just as the roots of this moss run deep in the crevices of these stones.

This huge boulder is part of a decorative arrangement of boulders in our yard.  It was actually dug out of the ground on our property during an excavation we had done to divert underground water away from our house. It is solid and strong and was able to withstand millions of years of pressure and heat underground. Now, it is above ground and bravely faces whatever the elements send throughout the year. Fierce winds, pelting rain and scorching sun may chisel the face of this rock but it only serves to add to its character and beauty. I can't help but think of this boulder as an analogy of life. 

This looks like a labyrinth doesn't it?!  It's actually a cleverly disguised bird's nest hidden behind some leaves in the midst of this helter-skelter of branches. The birds were rather smart placing their nest here weren't they? They made certain that they would not be discovered and their eggs would be safe. I do believe the location of this nest took some planning although to some it might look a bit chaotic. But I know better. There is order in chaos, after all. 

The stream on our property is heavy with rushing water due to the storms of this past week. I find the sound to be both relaxing and a reminder of the powerful force behind the water rushing down our hillside. The force of water cuts like a knife and can carve a path in whatever lies in its way. Kept within its banks it remains in control but unleashed and left to its own devices it can flood and destroy. A metaphor for what can happen when thoughtless speech is not bridled or fearful thoughts run rampant in heads. May the force of my words and thoughts carve only good and positive paths. 

Sometimes beauty in nature is incredibly small and you have to get down on the ground to really see the intricate design and the shapes that are hidden. This takes slowing down, physically adjusting position and looking deeply at what is, literally, beneath our feet. This takes effort and is so easy to overlook. How many times I must have walked past this very spot and never noticed the beauty....because I wasn't looking for it. My eyes were elsewhere, I was moving too quickly and I was trampling on top of it to get somewhere else. I'm so glad that I made the effort today to see something that has been there all along but I had never noticed before. I wonder what else I might be missing out on seeing? 

The ivy in our back garden is bright and green and has already begun winding itself around the base of St. Francis.  Ivy can be an invader and has a tendency to spread and, left alone, it would cover the whole garden, strangling out the flowers that will be planted soon in the garden bed. So, at least once a year, I have to prune it back, allowing just enough to be in the bed to look pretty but not to overtake. Ivy has its place but so do the other flowers. I cannot allow it to be overbearing and to take over.  Pruning can be important, both in flower gardens and in the garden of life. 

I'm glad I took this walk around my backyard. It was just what I needed to get my thoughts on straight. There was so much beauty to be found, shapes to be seen, lessons to be learned. The beauty of  God's creation always does that for me and I didn't have to go far to find it!  How about you?  Where do you find wisdom? 

All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,

whose plan is wonderful,

whose wisdom is magnificent.

Isaiah 28:29

Until Next Time,

Debbie