Tag Archive for: Country

For the Beauty of the Earth

We live in a world that is often filled with commotion, turmoil and noise.

Sometimes we need to unplug and get away from the distractions around us, allowing us to reflect on God’s love for us.

As I was thinking about this photograph that my wife took a few weeks ago, this song came to mind.  It had been awhile since I had last heard it, but I believe that the words capture this picture beautifully.

Have a great day! 🙂

For the Beauty of the Earth

‎Written by:  Folliott Sandford Pierpoint‎, 1864

Public Domain

For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,
for the heart and mind’s delight,
for the mystic harmony,
linking sense to sound and sight;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For thy church, that evermore
lifteth holy hands above,
offering up on every shore
her pure sacrifice of love;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For thyself, best Gift Divine,
to the world so freely given,
for that great, great love of thine,
peace on earth, and joy in heaven:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.


(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

/by

A Tranquil Delivery

We often find unexpected beauty along the paths that our lives take.  That was the case when I delivered lumber to a new house being built at the end of this lane.

When I reached the delivery address, I found a narrow lane disappearing into the woods.  The first few dozen feet of driveway had grass growing in the middle.

Seeing the condition of the driveway out at the road, and not knowing where it might lead, I was a little hesitant to turn in.  However, the thought of carrying lumber to an unknown location was not a very attractive idea, either!  So, I started back the drive – grimacing at the number of tree branches reaching out to scrape against my truck.

Soon, the grass-centered drive gave way to a nice, gravel path that skirted a small, quiet stream that wound its way through the woods.  The filtered sunlight coming through the trees made for a tranquil scene that reflected peace and solitude.  As I entered the clearing for the new home, it was easy to see why someone would want to build back there.

Thinking about that drive through the woods, our lives often take unexpected twists and turns that lead us off into the unknown.  There are plenty of distractions that vie for our attention as we go through life – some good, others bad.

The journey may leave us with questions and doubts – and perhaps more than a few scratches and bruises as we travel along that path.

Yet, there’s also beauty along the road that we travel.  The people and opportunities that you and I encounter may be seen as blessings in our lives.  Along the way, they may offer moments of rest, refreshment and encouragement on our journey through life.

Seeing this picture, I’m reminded of the Twenty-Third Psalm.  Even though there are times when we may walk through difficulties and troubles, there is One who wants to walk with us – if we allow Him to.

Every new day, and each trip, offers opportunities for us to experience beauty in life.  Sometimes we just need to slow down, turn off the road and allow the Creator to guide us along that peaceful, calm stream.

Have a great day!

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  –  Psalm 23:1-6 (NIV)

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

/by

An Old Stone House and Its Springhouse

There is an old stone house that sits along one of the gravel roads that led to where my grandparents used to live.  I don’t know the story behind the house; but, it’s pretty fascinating to look at.

The exterior is made of large cut stone – much like what is used in barn foundations.  Almost as impressive is the front door, which has massive wood jambs that fit the oversized exterior walls.

Over the years, the house and accompanying farm have become a country favorite for my wife and me to drive by.  Nestled among rolling hills, trees and pastures, and sitting along an old rural road, it’s picturesque and invokes memories of a time when life seems to have been simpler and slower – at least by today’s standards.

An old bank barn, equipment shed and corn cribs are all nicely painted and well maintained.

Perhaps, of all of the outbuildings on that property, it’s the old spring house that stands out in my mind as I write this.  Once a necessity to most farms, these little buildings have largely become obsolete – if they even still exist on farmsteads today.  This little structure stands in the shade of nearby trees, providing a ready source of cool water for the household.

One can almost hear children’s laughter coming from the springhouse as they splashed little toes in the water – or, perhaps tried their hand at catching little crayfish that might occasionally come out from hiding beneath the slippery rocks lining the spring basin.

You can see a man coming from the barn – stopping at the spring to splash some water on his hot, tired and dirty face in an attempt to look halfway presentable for supper.  Or, he may get a cool drink from an old granite dipper hanging on a nail in the building.

Then again, perhaps you can imagine the vegetables and melons that were placed in the fresh spring water to cool down for an evening meal.

As I think about that old farm, several thoughts come to mind.

I can’t help but think about the stability of the home. With those massive stones and the heavy front door, I imagine that it has the ability to withstand many storms.  It reminds us that in life, we all face various types of storms.  That house seems to ask me to consider Who I am placing my trust in and what am I allowing into my life.

My mind also wanders to the cool, refreshing water that may be found in that spring house.  As I think about the refreshment found there, it causes me to reflect on the ways that I find peace, joy and rest in my life.

Gravel roads often have a way of making us slow down.  Along the way, scenes like this old stone house and its accompanying buildings help us to reflect on what is really important in life.

Have a great day!

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

/by

Beauty of a Simple Faith

It looks as if these rows of corn shocks could go on forever.

For me, fall has always been one of my favorite times of the year. There’s a silent calming effect that I feel as I observe harvested fields, and seevlawns and gardens being tidied up before winter sets in.

As this picture shows, harvest is the culmination of a lot of hard work, sweat and likely, much prayer.

Farming and gardening require much doing on the part of the ones who tend the fields and gardens. Yet, they also insist on the farmer or gardener to have much faith – regardless of the yield.

Looking at these shocks a second time, it seems as if they reach into the heavens. They remind us of the One who continually blesses, loves and watches over us.

It’s in the simple beauty of nature, where our faith and hope are often greatly impacted.

Have a great day!

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

/by

The Cost of Freedom

For many, Memorial Day is part of a three day weekend. It’s a time to get together with family and friends, have a cookout or go camping. For others, it is an opportunity to remember family and friends who have passed away.

Yet, the true reason of Memorial Day goes much deeper. It’s about a great debt.

Memorial Day is when America, as a nation, remembers those who have died while on active duty. Those brave individuals gave the ultimate sacrifice – offering their lives defending the ideals of freedom. On this day, we remember those who would never make it home to see their loved ones nor see old age.

As we spend Memorial Day with family and friends, let’s remember that freedom is never free.

Have a great day!

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13 (NIV)

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

/by

Treat Others to the Best

Growing up just a few miles from this barn, it’s been a common sight for much of the last four decades for me.  While I’ve never used the product advertised, I have loved old barns.  So, it’s easy to understand why I have enjoyed seeing this barn and others like it throughout the years.  They are a part of America’s rural heritage and help us to remember times that were often simpler and happier – at least in our memories.

Barns painted with advertisements were a once-common sight across rural America.  As a means to reach passing motorists, companies would rely on these barns to promote their products.  In addition to a small stipend paid, these advertisers would offer the farmer a means of getting their barn painted – helping to preserve the integrity of the barn’s wood.  A win-win situation, if you will.

An early common advertiser was the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company, who’s “Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco – Treat Yourself to the Best” ads were painted on barns in more than twenty states.  These signs were painted by hand.  According to Wikipedia, the Mail Pouch program ran from 1891 to 1992.

While the Mail Pouch ads were the most common, other companies also painted their slogans and advertisements on barns.  In addition to barns, many other buildings were also used for canvasses for these promotional campaigns.  Feed and grain stores, tobacco companies – even tourist destinations such as Rock City, near Chattanooga, Tennessee, painted roadside structures in similar fashion.

In addition to barns, perhaps you may remember other rural roadside advertisements.

Perhaps, one of the most famous was the “Burma Shave” signs.  These ads would have several small signs in sequential order carrying humorous rhyming poems – with the last sign saying “Burma Shave”.  While these advertisements were before my time, I’ve enjoyed seeing pictures of them in different publications over the years.

These vintage barn and roadside signs are reminders that each of us displays messages every day.  Our actions often carry more weight than our words, and people often watch what we do to see if we can be trusted.  Regardless of whether we realize it or not, someone is always watching us – so let’s “Treat Others to the Best”!

Have a great day! 🙂

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

/by

Calves and a Milkman’s Lesson

On a recent delivery to a dairy farm, I noticed several calf hutches near the driveway. Several young Jersey calves were resting at these enclosures. While I loved seeing the young animals, it also brought back another memory a day later as I thought back to that stop.

Seeing those Jersey calves brought back memories of my Grandfather. He hauled milk for many years – until I was around six years old. Grandpa is where I got my love for trucking. (He may also be partially responsible for why Dad has worked at a cheese factory for more than forty-five years – and, they both played a part in why I love farms and rural life.)

Growing up, I loved trucks. It was always exciting to go to my grandparents’ place and climb into one of Grandpa’s truck cabs. All of those knobs and buttons were very tempting for little fingers!

But, there was more to Grandpa than just trucks. He loved people – his family, and the individuals that he met over the years. People are where these calves come in. I remember hearing how Grandpa used to enjoy talking to farmers as he picked up their milk. He also enjoyed sharing a funny joke or good story – and likely, many of those farmers looked forward to his arrival to add some color to their days.

As I’ve grown older, I still enjoy trucks. I don’t always find their cabs to be the fascinating playgrounds that I did as a child. Yet, like Grandpa, I’m finding that trucking allows me to have a unique way to enter other people’s lives.

I don’t have the ability to spend long periods of time getting to talk to my customers. Yet, I still enjoy those few moments of conversation that I often have with various people. It’s a privilege to get to enter into the lives of others – earning their trust as they tell me their stories. Those moments aren’t something that I take lightly – but, believe to be an opportunity that God blesses me with.

The Jersey calves reminded me of an important lesson that I learned from Grandpa many years ago – that we’re seldom too busy to give a listening ear to somebody else.

Have a great day!

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

/by

Experiencing God

We live in a world that is always in a hurry. In the process, we often lose focus on what really matters: God and people. As a result of this misguided view, the rest of our lives, work and many of our best intentions become mediocre.

What if we took the time to experience God and listen to others? Perhaps, if we order our lives in a slower more orderly way, you and I can then say that we have given our best.

(Photo Credit: My wife.)

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

/by

The Old Brick House

This farmstead sits just down the road from where my grandparents used to live. Ever since I was a boy, it has sat abandoned – causing me to be intrigued by this setting.

Old brick farmhouses built in this fashion are not as common around here as wood-sided structures. This causes me to wonder about the uniqueness of the place, and the family who might have built and called it home.

There’s beauty and a story in every house – and the life of each person. Even the most dilapidated structure or grievous offender can display the Creator’s love.

Every trip is an chance to see something new. It’s up to us to find diamonds – even in the rough.

Have a great day!

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

/by

Going for a Drive

Ever since I was old enough to remember, I’ve enjoyed going on drives. Each trip is a new adventure. You never know what will be seen on each outing.

I think that there’s something almost soothing about a small rural road. It is here, where I can often slow down as I get away from the hustle and competing noises of the world that we live in.

It’s out on these small roads where I enjoy a front row seat at watching the Creator’s hands at work. All of creation speaks of God’s wonderful love and affirms His goodness.

So, let me encourage you to take a drive on some small, rural road. Take your time, roll the windows down and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. You’ll be glad that you did!

Have a great day!

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

/by