I was reading by early morning light. Two deer were in the yard on the tree line browsing. I was reading Hebrews 4:13 “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight”. Looking up I saw the deer had slipped into the woods out of sight. I started laughing at myself. There are times when I think I’m really somebody. I know you can’t relate…But, I can’t even keep track of a deer!
If what can be seen by us is amazing, just think what the God who sees all wants to show us.
I love the symbolism of nature except for the part where we are playing is leaves. we will fade and drop someday. We don’t get the super powers and we only live for a season of time. Thankfully, our creator knows everything about us, out thoughts and motives…everything, and still wants a relationship with us. In Him is life, let Him in.
Jesus said “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” Revelation 3:20 (In Other Words, Let Him in).
The simplest picture can touch the edges of eternity
Life’s stakes are high. Daryl Maddens Poem hits it well.
Two voices in your head Struggle for control The loud voice of the ego The whisper of the soul….. Read more here at Daryl’s blog
It’s so human to buy a lot of ego stock for the short term and hold, sometimes into eternity, as if we can control the dividends
This morning I saw and captured a whole garden in a dew drop. Think what God can make of us when we trust Him
Instead, Invest here: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6
Think of the solid foundation from which we speak. If you believe and know Jesus, you have been forgiven, made whole, and have been made absolutely perfect (way more than a dew drop) before God. “For He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” 2corinthians 5:21
I got run over by a 1600 pound steer. It’s true. Not as glamorous a story as Grandma and the reindeer but this steer was 5 times as big as any reindeer. I’m quite sure no song like “Grandma got run over by a reindeer” will come of it either. I’m OK, thanks for asking. The hooves missed me after a good head butt to send me flying and then run over the top of me.
I had agreed to drive two hours to bring a steer to market for a brother. It was an easy job. Just drive the rig, back up the trailer and let the steer out into the chute. Easy. Two experienced professionals took it from there after backing the trailer tight with the open chute door. They opened the trailer door. The steer ran out of the trailer and up the chute a few feet while the professionals closed the trailer door and shut the chute gate.
All of this looked easy. I was ready to walk away, get in the truck and drive away. As I innocently stood at the mouth of the closed gate, the big angry steer charged at one of the attendants. The steer hit the side of the chute and made an opening at the end of the gate. One moment I was standing in front of where the gate closes and the next moment, I was in front of the opening. The massive animal saw the small opening and charged right through. His big head caught me in the chest and tossed me into a perfect back flip. I landed a skidding bellyflop onto the gravel driveway. I imagined my guardian angel and a couple other angels just watching and holding up signs…they were giving me a straight 10! Then the massive steer ran over the top of me, hooves pounding on each side of my face. Thankfully no hooves mashed me. Physically speaking, I felt f.f.f.fine.
My body was sore in places where I didn’t even know I had places. Some odd memories were coming to me. I now believe those who tell about their whole life flashing before them in less than a second during a near death experience. As I was flying through the air, I remember pieces of my disjointed thoughts, “I’m never traveling to Pamplona to run with the bulls”. Something did not feel right thinking of communion in church…”this is my body broken for you…” my mind fragmented more than my body. I vividly remember dads voice saying, “this is a teachable character moment son”. Mom’s voice said “oh my!” I thought…nothing, just flashes of life and lots of accidents and “oh, this is going to hurt!”
At days end. Evaluating life might be a good thing.
Some changes have taken place. mostly in my heart and mind. living, dying, accidents or just an odd happening does so instantly. I mean, what unforeseeable accident happens slowly? I’ve been shying away from parts of my morning prayer, mostly where I pray “well Lord, what do you have for me today?” this is my version of “thy will be done” when quoting the Lord’s Prayer. I am very open to praying differently if you have other ideas. I find myself talking to God like Moses at the burning bush; “here I am Lord, please send Aaron.” I’m quite sure my default prayers should include needing more wisdom. Maybe I should think carefully about standing in front of doors that life can smash through and affect not only me but future generations. I also realized I wanted to be the kind of person the world would truly miss and God would want me to be, should the next accident that comes my way send me into eternity.
Both Dad and mom used to talk about the unseen character of one’s life. They were firm believers in using almost anything for teachable character moments in developing seven children’s worth of character growth. They used those times that came upon us suddenly to show us the kind of person we really were. When someone hits their thumb with a hammer while pounding in a nail, true character seems to show itself. When we were wrongly accused, our character was on display. When we were given too much change back after a purchase, we were sent back into the store. All of us siblings have plenty of teachable character moment stories.
With this steer incident, God got my attention. Some old song lyrics came to mind. “Nothing can happen to me today. Nothing good, nothing bad. Nothing can happen to me today without passing through the fathers hand.” So, what does it take for God to get your attention? Trust me, in life, at any time, God allows some extreme attention getters. Actually…don’t trust me. I have my own trust issues which at least partial explains God’s attempt at a teachable character moment for me. Yes, God can make something good come from a rogue steer and me standing where I shouldn’t.
