Giving Thanks for Green

For months the landscape lay grey and brown, ochre and dun. Prison grey. Dirt brown. Grey trees lifted imploring fingers toward the wane sun. Tattered brown blankets wrapped the fields in slumber. Even the evergreens—the spruce and pine and cedar—straggled into spring in tarnished dresses of dingy olive-drab.

Then spring came, and green burst out all over. Grey days quickly become magical green days. Every morning became an Amen of praise to the Divine Artist, a gentle symphony of awakening life heralded by the blush of spreading green. Gentle green. Subtle. Fresh. Vibrant. In a myriad of soothing shades.

Ponder the miracle. Almost overnight grey was banished from the fields of winter wheat. The ditches come alive with shoots of green. The crocuses flowered. Tulips and daffodils brightened the brown border. Wildflowers rose from the litter. The twigs of all the forest trees, according to a timetable choreographed by the Creator, began to swell and stretch. Slowly, the leaves unfurled and stretched toward the warming sun.

Spring is like a smile, suddenly transforming a face tight with sadness. Or a subtle blush spreading on the face of a young woman at the sight of her beloved.

Every spring I’m bursting with thankfulness for . . . green, yes, green, as a pigment, green as a symbol of life and hope. What would our world be without its soothing shades? And yet in the few short weeks since this resurrection has occurred, I tend to forget—take it for granted, like so much else that comes from the Creator’s Hand.

Forgive me Father for everything I take for granted! And now that I think of it, what about blue, the colour of sky and water, red that announces cardinal and rose, orange the hue of pumpkin and tangerine, and violet the colour of lilac and amethyst?

If I take colour for granted, what about apples and zebras, bread and butter, coffee and x-rays, dandelions and water? Paul wrote, “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”(Eph.5:20). Clearly, I’ve got a long way to go before I reach the borders of thanksgiving country.

From Philippians we learn that a dearth of prayer laced with thanksgiving promotes anxiety.(Phil. 4:6) Colossians teaches us that “overflowing in thanksgiving” acts as a catalyst to encourage our growth in Christ.(Col. 2:7) Colossians also links vigilance to thankfulness.(Col. 4:2) Failing to count our blessings, to name them one by one, makes us careless, spiritually lazy, and dangerously naïve—the dark territory into which I stray too often.

And so, Lord, help me to be thankful for the simple things—all the things I take for granted—including all the colours of the rainbow, but especially green. (Check out Psalm 136) For further inspiration thoughts drawn from nature see Through A Country Window or Down a Country Road at: http:www.countrywindow.ca

A World of Explosive Potential

Scant weeks ago, the deciduous hillsides stood lifeless, clothed in their brown and grey winter cloak. As the sun rose higher, it sparked a resurrection. In the buds at the ends of maple and poplar and oak branches, sap tickled forth life. The buds began to swell. And in scant days tiny new leaves split open their winter cocoons and peeked forth.

We’re so used to this happening every spring, we think nothing of it. But when we look closer it seems miraculous. How could those dry, scaly buds—each bud distinctive, by the way—have the potential within them for such delicate new leaves to form? How did the Creator craft such a thing? A package so tiny and yet so resistant to winter’s frigid breath that it could contain the embryos of the miraculous food factories that leaves become?

Now as I look out my window, a myriad subtle shades of green clothe the hillsides in a cloak much fancier than Joseph’s coat of many colours.

Actually, the miraculous mantle of green we now see all around us is but one example of a world full of explosive potential. And most of that latency has been packaged by the Creator in miniscule capsules. A piece of fluff that becomes a giant cottonwood tree. An acorn that grows into a mighty oak. A tiny seed that morphs into a plant yielding mouth-watering tomatoes. A drop of water that becomes a snowflake.

And what of an embryo that develops into a baby? Each baby is born with astonishing potential. Will he or she grow into another Einstein, a Michelangelo, an Alexander Graham Bell, or a Florence Nightingale? More important, will that child become a person full of love and compassion who adopts orphans, or stands up for the downtrodden, or reaches out to a tribe living in superstitious fear. Often those with the least promising start in life and the most disabilities surprise us with their potent talents.

What about the potential for good in a kind and encouraging word? The possibility that dawns with each new day? The potency of a prayer uttered in desperation and faith? Even the possibility contained in a 140 character tweet—for good or ill? The power of an idea? The uplifting effect of love, the soothing power of forgiveness, or the encouragement found in a hug?

None of these top the potential in a simple message, the good news of the gospel. It’s about the Son of God came and dwelt among us, died in our place for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day. He is now seated at the Father’s right hand from where he will return. It’s good news because, the moment we really believe Jesus and his mission, we are transformed—born again. Our slide into the mire and muck of our own potent selfishness is halted and rise up to begin our ascension of a mountain of new possibilities.

All over the world from Ethiopia to India to Indiana, people are being turned right side up by its simple but dynamic power. That happened to me when I was 19. I hope and pray it is your experience. If not ask Jesus right now to come into your heart and become your Savior and Lord.

To read more country inspiration read Down A Country Road at http://www.countrywindow.ca/book-countryroad.html or ebook, Through A Country Window at http://www.smashwords.com/b/76553 or http://www.amazon.com/

How Surroundings Affect our Attitudes

Both Mary Helen and I try to walk every day for exercise. I use a chain saw to clear dead trees from our property. But both of us have found our activities severely limited due to arthritic knees and, in my case, a right shoulder problem that seems untreatable. To be candid, frustration and discouragement cloud the horizon. Our to-do-lists remain long.

One glance outside, however, lightens the mood. The grass is greening. The yellow faces of the daffodils smile at the sun. Everything is on tiptoe, ready to burst into bloom. Tulips and hyacinth. Maple, beech, ash and aspen. What seemed to be bare patches of dirt a week ago, now boast tiny tendrils of perennials I’d forgotten—delphinium, aster, foxglove, coneflower, fiesta flower, and hosta.

How can one be gloomy in the spring? It’s really quite amazing what a profound effect our surroundings have on our moods. Looking back, I can understand why many suffer from seasonal affective disorder during the winter. Not only is daylight reduced but the fields and forests seem drab and dead. What must it be like to live in a prison surrounded by concrete with no view of lawns or woods? And I often wonder how people endure living in ramshackle slums or even in concrete and glass high-rise buildings.

Surely, humans created to live in the Garden of Eden and destined, through faith in Christ, to end up in a garden in paradise, need gardens and parks to feel at home in this world. Every city development needs adequate and attractive parkland. I seriously wonder whether prisoners would be more likely rehabilitated if they had more exposure to the gentle influence of grass and flowers.

Our daughter, Debbie, had struggled for months with the debilitating effects of a concussion. During this time she prayed for the Lord to lift her spirits in some way. He sent her several pairs of cardinals. Intrigued at their gorgeous red plumage, she began to put out bird seed attracting other birds. She, who had never been a bird watcher, felt herself uplifted.

Not all have the opportunity to choose their surroundings. As many of God’s imprisoned and tortured saints have testified, God Himself can draw near in the ugliest of environments. “Lo I am with you always.” “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, thou art with me.” The unalloyed presence of God is enough.

And yet God created us with five senses so we could experience a sensual world. He created a plethora of flowers and butterflies, birds and fish, sea-shells and pebbles, rainbows and cloud formations to be enjoyed. Embracing the varied beauty of our world enables us to rise above our immediate pains and problems to soar in our spirits on wings of hope.

THE WAITING SEASON-Acquiring patience in unsettled weather

Some months should be accepted as months dedicated to acquiring patience. In northern climes, during March and April we wait—often impatiently. We wait for winter to leave and for the temperature to climb. The sun shines brightly for a few days, then snow flurries come again, as they have today. Our crocuses and snowdrops valiantly try to bloom. This year has tried the patience of most of us.

November and part of December are waiting months too. Waiting for winter, the real winter with snow. Waiting. Whether in the early spring or late fall we are often found waiting for perfect weather. Fortunately, we have the Easter holidays to distract us in the spring and Christmas to look forward to in the late fall. Otherwise, there’s not much to do outside in these shoulder seasons.

However, if we approach these prolonged in-between seasons with the right kind of attitude, we may come out of them with a healthy dose of patience! And without patience and perseverance we’ll spend much of our lives being frustrated. Consider how much we need these qualities: waiting for a bus, driving through traffic, bringing up children, getting through school, finding a job, developing a strong marriage, writing a book, painting a picture, or playing monopoly. We’ll never succeed in completing tedious and detail-oriented tasks without buckets of the stuff. Nor will we live a meaningful life.

No wonder the biblical writers say a lot about this character quality. In the parable of the sower and the soils, “the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop”(Luke 8:15).

Jesus urges believers during the chaos coming near the end of the age; “in patience possess your souls” (Luke 21:19, KJV). This implies that without patience our souls are like unmanageable animals—wild mustangs who know nothing of saddle and bridle.

Both Romans 5 and James 1 affirm that, under the hand of God, suffering and tribulation help us develop the perseverance and patience we need to live victorious and fruitful lives. (See Rom 5:1-5; James 1:2-5). The writer of Hebrews urges us to “run with patience the race that is set before us”(Heb. 12:1).

The Scriptures were written “so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope”(Rom. 15:4). It is interesting to note here that the wisdom and encouragement we acquire from the Scriptures enables us to endure unpleasant circumstances productively. The Scriptures give us the big picture, the long view. Without them we might find both the present and the future dark and foreboding.

Sitting still and lamenting our situation—or the weather—will not create the patience we need to press ahead with life. “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”(Heb. 6:12). An active lifestyle helps to banish discouragement and depression.

I’ve gone far afield from talking about the uncertainty of April weather. And yet, I contend that there seems to be a relationship between cheerfully accepting whatever weather comes our way, and developing the patience and hope we need to live satisfying and productive lives.

Comforting those in Affliction – #7 in a series on suffering

Reading recently about the persecution many Christians suffer, I was struck by how lonely they must be. How do they endure being isolated in dark cells, tortured or locked in shipping containers? Fortunately, in many cases persecuted Christians testify to having an unusual sense of God’s presence.

Ultimately, the Holy Spirit is the great comforter—and He can comfort us either directly or indirectly through the Scriptures. We should not, however, discount the role we are to play as agents of the Spirit. When we reel in unbelief from a terrible diagnosis or when we are discouraged, sick, disappointed, feeling like failures, or doubt our own worth the Holy Spirit most often uses other Christians to encourage us.

During the frightening period when Assyria threatened to destroy Israel, God urged Isaiah, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem“(Is. 40:1,2).

God urges New Testament believers to comfort and encourage one another. Suffering, whether physical or emotional, saps our energy and reduces our resistance to discouragement and temptation. No wonder Paul sent Tychicus to Colossae that “he may encourage your hearts“(Col. 4:8). And to the Thessalonians he wrote, “Therefore encourage each other with these words [words about the certain return of Christ]“(1 Thess. 4:18). The author of Hebrews in warning believers about the danger of slipping away from the faith urged them to, “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness”(Heb. 3:13). “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds….let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching“(Heb. 10:24,25).

I have been so often blessed by words of encouragement that I keep an Encouragement File. I haven’t always seen the importance of encouraging others, brought up as I was by a father who had himself been taught to “keep a stiff upper lip,” and “good work is its own reward.” I appreciate the good qualities of my dad, but looking back I can see how my mother often suffered without receiving much comfort.

We shouldn’t be reticent about encouraging others for a job well done, a good article we read, or a Sunday School class well taught. Nor should we be negligent in comforting those who need comfort.

How we comfort others, however, is important. We shouldn’t tell someone that we understand their trial if we haven’t faced similar afflictions. In 2 Corinthians we are taught that one of the purposes of our own suffering is to learn how to comfort others. “The Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God“(2 Cor. 1:3,4). No one can comfort one suffering cancer, like one who has gone through it. No one can comfort a lonely divorceé like one who has suffered a messy divorce. No one can comfort a bereaved father like someone who has lost a child. Have we learned from our own experiences about the kind of comfort we appreciated?

Another thing we should not do is quote Romans 8:28 to remind a person that all things work together for good. Nor should be inform them piously that God must be teaching them something, or they must be very special to have such a severe trial. In the midst of pain and anguish, people don’t need to be reminded what they may know to be true when their mind is clearer but can’t feel at the moment. In the midst of pain they may feel abandonment, puzzlement, grief. Such words fall like icicles on tender hearts, hearts that need warm words of love.

In Greek the Holy Spirit is called the paraclete, meaning the one who comes alongside. How instructive to learn from the divine Comforter, that sometimes the best way to help the afflicted is just to quietly come alongside to listen. While we may not be able to say, we understand, we can offer a hug, bring a meal, or pray for the person. We may want to send a card. We can ask if there is anything practical we can do? Cut the grass. Pick up groceries. Clean house. They need to know we care.

The pain words can inflict – #6 in a series on suffering.

As we continue our series on the causes of suffering, consider the terrible effect hurtful words have on our emotional health. Too often we inflict pain on each other in the daily ebb and flo our lives together in families, communities, and at work.

A slightly overweight and suicidal girl walks home from school after another day of verbal bullying. A husband drops into a bar to postpone the open warfare that breaks out every time he comes home. A high school student cringes when his father asks him why he didn’t get straight ‘A’s’ on his report card. A woman shrivels under the stream of criticism flowing from her husband. An orphan, finding no love or comfort, cries himself to sleep in the third home he’s been shunted to in a year.

The childhood taunt is not true; Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me. Words: stupid, loser, fatty, you did it again, why do you always…, why can’t you be like…, it’s your own fault…, and the like, sting like an asp. Verbal poison comes in an almost infinite variety but all such toxins create emotional pain. The pain manifests itself in many ways: sadness, discouragement, despair, hopelessness, depression, frustration, anger, bitterness, resentment, or jealousy.

In terrible physical pain and anguish, Job cried out for comfort and understanding. But instead of comfort, his three friends urged him to admit his sins and repent. They held a mistaken belief that suffering and misfortune is caused by the sin of the sufferer. How ignorant they were of the reality that accidents, illness, and misfortune are the common lot of all mankind. Some of the greatest saints endured inordinate suffering: Jeremiah, David, Paul, not to mention Jesus, Himself.

Because of their faulty theology, instead of offering understanding and sympathy, Job’s three friends added immeasurably to his pain through their words. After listening to their soliloquies, Job cried, “miserable comforters are you all” (Job 16:2). At the end of the story God spoke, “to Eliphaz the Temanite, ‘I am angry with you and your friends, because you have not spoken to me what is right, as my servant Job has…My servant Job will pray for you”(Job 42:7,8).

David had a similar experience. In both Psalm 41 and Psalm 88 he laments the whispers and betrayal of his friends.

What do sad and worried people need? “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up”(Prov. 12:25). “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver”(Prov. 25:11). Imagine the effect on a depressed or insecure person of a word of commendation or encouragement.

Words can uplift and edify. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen”(Eph. 4:29). Christian love calls us to use our tongues in constructive ways.

There may be times when words of correction, even condemnation are needed. But they are rare. Most often people need understanding and affirmation much more than they need criticism. Let’s leave judgment to God while we offer consolation, encouragement, and hope. In the next blog I’ll look more fully at the ministry of encouragement.

Handling Interruptions

Sometimes I wonder if I’m too bound by to-do-lists. Every morning I make a list of tasks in my diary and take great pleasure at the end of the day in being able to cross them off. Some days my lists are unreasonably long. A good day is a day with little left undone. Ah, the sense of satisfaction! The feeling of accomplishment!

I’m not talking about Mary Helen’s honey-do-list: cleaning the garage, vacuuming the car, painting the cellar stairs, or getting rid of two decades of useless files. No, no, I’m talking about substantial tasks like finishing a chapter in a new novel, figuring out how to use Twitter to network, or add a page to my web site. Okay, I admit, I need to pay attention to her list too.

But whatever lists we make, invariably interruptions interfere. A snowstorm hits the area and travel plans are shelved. Or a toothache sends me to the dentist. The car needs servicing. In fact, a debilitating cold with all the miserable symptoms has laid me low for days and seriously delayed this blog.

We’ve all noticed that life is messy. It is irregular. It is unpredictable and disorderly. It keeps slopping over the boundaries of our carefully prepared plans. As Robbie Burns was wont to say: The best laid plans o mice and men gang aft aglee. In retirement, we at least have the luxury of adjusting our plans without our paycheck being docked. Salaried workers have a greater challenge than those of us in the grey generation.

How do we handle unpredictability? Since life is so full of it, maturity must include the ability to deal with interruptions without undue frustration. The apostle Paul wrote; “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances”(Phil. 4:11). His equanimity is quite incredible, given that Paul was beaten, shipwrecked, hungry, imprisoned, stoned, misunderstood and lied about.

My interruptions are minor compared to his. But the fact that Paul learned how to cope with terrible circumstances does give me hope. We can learn to accept interruptions if we tap into the resources Paul enjoyed. He knew the universe was not in the hands of blind fate. He had an unshakeable confidence that all things work together for good, because the Lord God is seated on the throne of the universe, and that God’s grace is sufficient for every trial.

Obviously, I have a long, long way to go if I would develop the kind of flexibility, freedom from irritability and trust in God’s plan that Paul modeled.