Walking by wetlands

"Our" forest in autumn...

I was hurrying on the walking path today, muscles aching from meeting my hour long walking goal for the first time yesterday... while trying to beat the rumble of thunder off in the distance.  I'd be fortunate to make thirty minutes this morning even if the weather cooperated for I was very, very sore.  :)

Just in case the storm would hit and I'd have to run into a building, I walked the section of the path which moseys through the research buildings on one side... wetlands on the other.  Quite an unusual set of neighbors there even for land cut out of a forest.

I stopped briefly to view the beauty of the swamp at my side (for to me they will always be swamps).  I grew up near swamp lands, one was located past the fence at the back of our yard and over a small hill.  Legend was the quicksand once swallowed a tractor.

Thankfully, my mother didn't know the number of times I climbed a tree to get a better view but even as a child I knew I should not get any closer.  Anyway, there were snakes in the swamp and I had no desire to meet up with one of them.  Just in case one gets too curious, there are fences around this swamp.

The Midwest once had so many wetlands, I have been told one could canoe across parts of Ohio, Northern Indiana, and Illinois.  Of course, A Girl of the Limberlost takes place near Ft. Wayne.  But those days are long gone and the wetlands are now much smaller and more local.

I found it interesting to be gazing at the primeval swamp to my right with its' still waters, fallen logs, and the forest of greenery it sets within... and to my left the sounds of heavy construction equipment were at work digging the foundations for a new research building for the 21st Century.  They could be heard in spite of the ear buds on my itty bitty iPod bringing soothing music to my soul.

This week (on different days) I have walked to Indelible Grace and John Denver (now there is an interesting combination).  However, this morning I was listening to a variety of recent contemporary Christian music selections when I came to one of my husband's favorite songs... Blessings.

I needed its' message this morning as I played and replayed the grace filled words.  I share them now with you...  oh, I did finish my walk and make it home before the storm hit!

Blessings
by Laura Story

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
 
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise