Traveling backroads, you find many unique, interesting structures.
The spring foliage is starting to show around this old schoolhouse. It won’t be long for children to start their summer vacations.
As the school year winds down, many youngsters are anticipating what they will be doing over the next few months. Camps, family trips and time spent with friends top the lists for many. Others are thinking about summer jobs and what they may do with their earnings.
But, as we all eventually learn, our education never really ends when we leave the walls of a school building. Life has many unique things to teach us.
It may have been years since the walls of this structure heard the laughter of young voices. Yet, it’s a reminder that we’re never too young or old to learn new things.
Have a great day!
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
https://theruraljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image_d8fc2be1-3ce0-49eb-8239-48ab0753122f-e1652473599936.webp484439nathankpattersonhttps://theruraljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/rural-journal-logo-2_03.pngnathankpatterson2022-04-30 22:19:422022-06-07 16:25:50The Old Schoolhouse
Recently, I saw these three head of cattle in a pasture that I was driving past.
From the intent look of the closest animal, I felt fortunate to have a fence between her and me! It was as if she was protecting the other cow with its calf.
How often do we show concern for others around us? After all, we’re all created by God.
Each individual shows the Creator’s love in unique ways. Perhaps, we could take a lesson from these animals and show concern for each person who comes into our lives. In the end, we will experience God’s love in ways that may not have been possible otherwise.
Have a great day!
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
Lambs come to mind for many people when they think about spring. They’re fun to watch as they play and run around open pastures near their mothers. The docile, gentle, defenseless animals have come to represent Easter.
Yet, young lambs running about in pastures also have a significant religious meaning.
For the Christian, these animals represent the people who Christ came to die and come back to life for. As the Bible tells us, people are like sheep. We are prone to get entangled in problems and make bad decisions – just like those four-legged critters. Jesus is also referred to as the Good Shepherd. Just as a farmer or rancher who cares for and protects his sheep from danger, Jesus came to save us and protect us from the consequences of our sins.
In other passages of scripture, Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God. In this, He is likened to the young sheep that were continually offered as sin and fellowship sacrifices to God. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, He paid the ultimate price for all who would place their trust in Him.
As the weather warms and becomes mild, it’s fun to observe the newness of life that’s happening around us. Lambs are one of the many signs that God has given us showing that He still makes all things new.
Have a great day!
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
It’s that time of the year when tree buds and early spring flowers are starting to appear like what is seen in this picture. One can imagine the young livestock – calves, foals and lambs, that are enjoying their first days of new life in many of the nearby pastures.
As the cold nights give way to warm days, there’s a faint earthy smell as farmers begin to work the soil. Of course, the last loads of manure are being hauled out of barns as livestock are beginning to find their way to green, spring pastures. So perhaps, there’s a chance that what I’m smelling is some “fresh country air”.
Spring is a time when the world awakens all around us. It’s as if everything comes alive after a long winter’s nap.
We look at all of the signs of new life that surrounds us and see an orchestrated beauty there. Even when the world seems out of control, the newness of life shows a certain order. But perhaps there’s more, as that gentle rhythm allows us to see the delicate designs and intricate patterns of a loving Creator. In these moments, we have the ability to be awed by such beauty and grace.
As this new life returns, gone are the cold, dark, damp nights of winter. In their place, are the warm, fresh, invigorating days of spring. With the weather changing, take time to enjoy the new life that is appearing all around us.
Have a great day! 😊
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
https://theruraljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/SIGNS-SPRING.jpg1334750nathankpattersonhttps://theruraljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/rural-journal-logo-2_03.pngnathankpatterson2022-04-03 21:29:272022-07-01 15:51:05Signs of Spring
At one time, the sight of a windmill was a common sight on many farms. Used to power a pump, it was an integral part of helping to draw water out of the ground for both the people and animals that called the place home. Rising above the house and other outbuildings, the metal framed structure stood like a lone sentinel guarding the property.
Windmills are still found in many places but aren’t as common today. They are still located on old farmsteads and also at Amish farms in place of electric power. Miniature reproductions can also be seen as part of landscape displays.
Just like the water that comes from the ground, there are emotions, attitudes and thoughts within us – beneath our surface. What comes out, when we find ourselves facing different situations, is a reaction to what’s inside.
How you and I respond to others is a reflection to what – and Who – is in us. Let me encourage you to trust the Savior – drawing deeply and finding satisfaction from the well that will never run dry.
Have a great day!
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
https://theruraljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/drawing-water.webp20481536nathankpattersonhttps://theruraljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/rural-journal-logo-2_03.pngnathankpatterson2022-03-26 22:03:332022-07-01 15:56:47Drawing Water
How often do we take our surroundings for granted? Many of us seem to be in a hurry. In our haste, you and I may not make time for others. Likely, we will pass through our days without taking opportunities to stop and enjoy the scenes that are unfolding around us.
The sunrise and sky in this picture may capture your attention. Yet, if the scene was overcast or the sun was higher in the sky, would we notice the beautiful colors that are announcing the arrival of another new day? We may see them – or our eyes may wonder to the ground below. You and I may catch glimpses of the stubble from last year’s corn crop – waiting to be plowed into the soil.
Our perception can change how we see things. One person may choose to set their eyes only on the cold, late winter day that this picture was taken in. Another individual may envision the beauty of the surrounding hillside and the incredible sky that’s being illuminated by the morning’s early light.
The reality is that we often choose to view much of our lives in the same manner. Likewise, we also decide if we will trust our Creator. While there’s many things that you and I may not be able to change, we are able to adjust our vision of what we see. That, my friend, can make all of the difference in how we go through our life.
Each day offers beautiful scenes. It’s up to us to decide how we will choose to view what we see.
Have a great day! 😊
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
How often do we stop to think about the greatness of God? The reality is that we often live in such a busy, fast-paced world that we don’t give much thought to the blessings and gifts of our Creator.
Consider the lyrics of this old hymn and allow them to minister to you. May we know and enjoy the beauty of our world in a new light.
HOW GREAT THOU ART
Carl Boberg, 1885
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
Old barns and backroads have a way of going together. They both seem to mark the passage of time – having stories to tell of the years that have gone by.
At one point, they were symbols that marked progress as our nation and its communities expanded. Yet, at some point, they became bygone relics that now serve out their roles humbly, linking often forgotten places.
I’ve always loved both. Backroads have taken me to some of my favorite places – to visit family and friends. Out buildings may hold interesting items – often old farm machinery and other items from another time.
They also represent another lesson. In a world that is in a hurry to go places, sometimes the best things in life are found when we slow down and simply enjoy where God has placed us with the people who surround us.
Those old barns and backroads may not take you and me to places that are found on a map. Yet, they will allow us to travel to places that are special and have a significance that is rarely found in today’s world.
Have a great day! 😊
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
I spend a lot of time on small rural roads. Some are paved, while others are gravel. After many years of bouncing around in a truck cab on those types of roads, one’s body begins to feel the impact of every rut, pothole and bump that’s been encountered.
Recently, as I was making a delivery on a gravel road, the lyrics of a country song by the group, Sawyer Brown, came to mind. It’s been many years since I heard that song, so I had to look it up to remember some of the words.
That song, “The Dirt Road”, talks about life along the dusty trails – like the ones that I’m accustomed to.
If you know anything about a dirt road, it’s definitely not “Easy Street”. There are plenty of bumps and bruises along the way.
Yet, there’s a sense of enjoyment, and even fulfillment and purpose, that comes from traveling along those backroads. It’s along those rural byways, that many life lessons have been learned. Just like in the song’s lyrics, my parents always taught my sister and I to work hard. We weren’t to expect preferential treatment or handouts. Rather, we were shown the importance of hard work and helping others out.
What Dad and Mom taught us has served us well in life. It was a way of helping us to learn what’s truly valuable in life – loving God, treating others with respect and that life was about relationships – not things. We also learned the value of doing our work well – regardless of what the job was.
Those lessons sometimes seem to be missing today. It often seems as if we live in a throw-away world, where some people are never content and always looking for something to entertain them. In an age of increasing negativity and conflict, perhaps those old lessons in kindness and grace could mend more than a few broken fences.
That day on that gravel road, took me back to another time. Although my back might argue otherwise, I for one am grateful for those old dirt roads.
Have a great day! 😊
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
This fence was along a driveway to a place where I made a delivery. Sleet and freezing rain had gone through the area the night before. While the roads had been pretreated, many of the driveways were still slick.
Ice is useful for keeping food items cold. It can even look attractive as it reflects light whilecoating fences, trees and other objects.
However, it isn’t very much fun to drive on – or walk across. I won’t tell how I know that last fact!
I don’t know anyone who enjoys driving when its icy. We all like to have control – being able to keep our vehicles safely on the road. In fact, this reality isn’t just about vehicles, but how we often go through life. We like to minimalize our risks.
Yet, as I look at this picture, I’m also reminded that we can’t control everything that happens to us. This is where trust and faith come into play.
There are many times when God calls us to take a step of faith in life and follow Him into some new endeavor. We don’t always know the outcome – and sometimes that can frighten us. Those moments have an opportunity to cause us to panic and try to flee from the unknown. On the other hand, we can choose to step out, knowing that even if you and I fail, it’s giving us an opportunity to possibly see something beautiful.
In those moments, we must ask if we’re going to trust our Creator and follow His direction. Or, are we going to try to play it safe – possibly missing out on some great gift or opportunity.
If you don’t need to go out on the ice, I’d recommend that you enjoy some time at home. Yet, if you must head out, please be safe and take your time!
Have a great day! 😊
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
