Walking along a forest trail near our new house, it struck me.  Bam.  I had been sad to lose our 1/4 mile driveway at the house we sold to move across the country to be here near our adult kids and their children.  I enjoyed walking that scenic driveway almost daily.  Such a pleasant walk past our neighbor’s barn, garden, and pond!  It was ideal because it wasn’t paved and so it was easy on my aging joints.  I supposed I’d never have such a lovely, safe walking place again.

But here I was.  Happily strolling along the mountain path (pictured above) a stone’s throw from our new house.  I enjoy observing the glistening wet ferns, fuzzy grey-green moss on the tree branches and the ever present cushy moss on pretty much everything.  I often have the pleasure of an upbeat companion, the neighbor’s good- natured Labrador retriever.  I’ve decided I live in one of the few places on earth where even the rocks and deciduous trees are green year round.  (Hint:  moss covers them.)

Wow!  How blessed I am!  I gave up comfort when we left our cozy home on a hill in the Smokies, but God has given us so much more here.  Not ease yet, but sweet respites from the mess, stress, and inconvenience of building our own house.  Even in the cold and wet, that mountain trail just off our property provides so much that restores my soul.  Beauty everywhere I look.  I can’t count how many shades of green even now in the wintry cold.  Yes, it forgot to warm up, even though it’s March.  Coldest, wettest/snowiest February in years.  Preceded by record cold and snowfall in January.  (Most snow since 1980.)  Record rain in November, too.  But beauty abounds if you even half look for it.

As I walk, I admire the beauty of this little slice of creation.  But on a deeper level, I’m admiring the Creator whose beauty is reflected in what I see.  I say, “Look at what you made, Lord.  It’s so beautiful.  I sure like what you did.”  I know it’s kind of funny to say, “Good job, God!”  But that’s my heart response to seeing his handiwork in front of me.  I’m awestruck that He made all this beauty and I get to enjoy it.

I have a little game I play when we’re driving to or from our rural house.  I look for animals and birds.  Lucky me, we live in an area with many pastures of sheep, cattle, horses, goats, and even turkeys.  I watch for babies- what’s cuter than a newborn lamb?!  If I’m a passenger I look for eye contact with an animal.  Have you ever noticed that a ewe has a lovely face?  Her body is a little shapeless in her winter coat, but the face!  I get jazzed when I spot a crane standing motionless in a field waiting for lunch, or a hawk ‘statue’ silently waiting for dinner.  Have you ever noticed that horses have the ability to look dejected beyond hope on rainy days?  Their heads droop, their tails droop, how sad they can look!  Sheep and cattle, on the other hand, don’t seem to mind much.  Turkeys get under the closest large evergreen and make the most of it.  Goats hate it and get under shelter, glaring at the deplorable rain, willing the sun to shine.

I’ve noticed that I, too, can choose how I respond to less than ideal circumstances.  I can sadly droop like the horse and grumble that things aren’t what I hoped for, but this doesn’t contribute to my happiness.  It just makes me sour and unfun to be with.  Or I can find something in the situation that is positive.  This isn’t a refusal to admit reality.  I do come in out of the rain like the goats!  It’s a refusal to allow my circumstances to dictate my outlook.  Unlike the goats, I don’t spend my day looking out the window hating the rain.  I can allow rain and cold to depress me or I can find something positive and get past the rest like the cattle who contentedly enjoy the green grass while patiently putting up with the rain.  Noticing how the glistening raindrops hang on the intricate Japanese Maple branches like tiny Christmas lights gave me a boost as I walked past them at the hospital entrance.  This applies to bigger things like health issues, too.  Husband and I were just saying how especially close we have been lately largely because of his presence during my myriad tests, doctor visits, and waiting for reports.  I appreciate him more than ever because he is present with me in my trials.

I’ve been especially aware of God’s comfort lately.  I’ve been reading a chapter a day from the classic, “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23”, by W. Phillip Keller.  Today’s chapter was about the comfort the sheep receive from the rod and staff of the Shepherd.  The author likened the rod to the Bible.  I have found that God’s words are comforting to me because they direct me on how to live.  They clearly command me to give thanks in every circumstance.  They comfort me because they make precious promises that God’s love and provision will never fail.  The Shepherd’s staff which he uses to lift and guide the sheep is a picture of the Holy Spirit, the author says.  I feel the comfort of God’s Spirit as he lifts my heart with assurances that my Shepherd is close by, guiding me even in the dark valleys.  When I’m willful and obstinate, He doesn’t leave me.  He comes close to remind me where the right path is.

I’ve been thinking that it’s when things are hunky-dory that I am in great danger.  When ease cushions me from suffering, I tend to get spiritually lazy.  I forget how much I need a tender Shepherd when I have everything I need and no crisis is looming.  But in the dark when the wolf howls, I snuggle close to Him.  The hardest test is whether I earnestly want to walk right next to him in the easy times.

Where are you right now?  Have hard circumstances pushed you close to the Shepherd?  Are you enjoying his sweet presence and kind guidance?  Or are you quite comfortable and drifting into self-sufficiency?  Are you forgetting to listen for His voice?

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