Sunday Afternoon Tea

And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:9

This has been a week where the weather acted as a perfect backdrop to my mood... dark with rain and drizzle. Normally I love rainy weather but the sadness of saying goodbye to my furry best friend along with various circumstances of life manifesting themselves at the moment... all came together to bring a heavy burden to my soul.

Friday evening I had one of those desires to "be alone where it is quiet" so I drove into town and parked in the Kroger parking lot near my former neighborhood. The rain pounding against the windshield made for a cozy cocoon in which to read the manuscript of my friend's new book. Although arriving by UPS for me to read and write a recommendation, God also used it to speak to my heart in that moment... He seems to be a Master Weaver like that.

Her words reminded me of changes in my own life. Although much wiser than I was in my youth, I miss the younger me. The man who was in charge of the Jesus People coffeehouse where I ministered in my late teen years would describe her as "Brenda runs in where angels fear to tread". :)

The circumstances which brought about deeper faith and trust also took away the innocent fearlessness that came with youth. I know that is common to life. I told a friend on the phone this week that I often say to my husband, "There is a reason they send young men to war".

I admit that it is a daily struggle between not so much faith and fear... but faith and weariness. St. Paul's words (inspired by the Holy Spirit) have spoken through two thousands years of trials and tribulations of life. One need not experience severe trials to feel like giving up.

Each day there are the little foxes which add up to frustration... like dropping a glass bottle of spaghetti sauce on the cement floor of the garage last week. (Sigh... all because one saw a spider the size of Texas crawl across the laundry basket.)

How do we keep filled with faith in the midst of life's circumstances? I am reminded of one of those "National Geographic Moments" (as Christopher calls them) which happened this past week. He and I were in the car together, the rain was such that it was a fine mist. We were slowing down to turn onto the gravel lane when we saw something in the distance. (Which would be the view shown in the header above.)

At first I thought it was the neighbor's dog but I quickly realized it was too large to be a dog. Christopher said it was a deer. Immediately after that, we both said... "Wow". For the animal turned just enough that we could see it was the most gorgeous, regal looking buck.

In the mist, the animal had an almost ghostly, ethereal presence. I must admit being thankful there was another person in the car or I would have wondered if I really saw a real buck or it was a figment of an overactive imagination.

While I sat in the car at the Kroger parking lot, my thoughts went back to that buck in the mist. In many ways it reminded me of life's journey. The journey is shrouded in mystery and the unknown but God's Word promises to be a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path. If I don't take the time to pray and read the Word... I walk in darkness.

I do not want to grow weary in well doing. I thank God for good books and warm hearted people who encourage along the way...

Picture: Dessert dishes from 2008's Thanksgiving's table