Tag Archive for: Nature

Oat Sheaves

Oat sheaves are a common sight on many Amish farms in east-central Ohio during the middle of summer. Commonly used as a source of horse feed, the cut oats are bundled and stacked in the fields to dry. After a few days, they will be hauled off to a barn where they will be run through a thrashing machine. From there, the oats will be separated from the chaff – which may be baled into straw for livestock bedding.

While oats are grown in many countries, perhaps it’s fitting that they’re still grown here. For just over an hour away by highway in Ravenna, Ohio, the Quaker Oats Company once milled oats. Known by its logo consisting of a man in simple, plain clothing, Quaker took a crop that was largely used as livestock feed and promoted it as a healthy, wholesome breakfast cereal.

In a world that seems to be constantly changing, something as traditional as oats and real horsepower helps to remind us of our roots. In fact, a simple crop can teach us lessons for life.

For one thing, we usually harvest what we sow. If we plant good seed, barring no drought or other natural disaster happens, we will often get a healthy crop. Planting, caring for and harvesting a crop takes patience and work on our part. Ripe crops don’t just happen!

We can also relate to this field. Just as the Creator provided the right conditions for the oats to grow, He also provides what you and I need to be the people whom we’re meant to be.

Like every oat seed, each person has great potential locked inside. Let’s be careful to allow God to cultivate our lives and relationships in ways that benefit everyone we meet.

Have a great day! 😀

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America – A Blessed and Beautiful Nation

While waiting to enter the sanctuary one Sunday morning, a young boy saw a plaque with names on it.  Pulling his mother over to it, he proceeded to ask her what it was about.

Quietly, the boy’s mom explained that the names on it were for those from the community who had passed away in the service.

Without missing a beat, the young man asked, “Mom, did they die in the morning or evening service?”

We are often inundated with calls to separate faith from government.  Yet, the Bible lays a foundation for the behavior to be modeled by citizens.  Respecting our leaders, serving one’s nation and loving others – even those with whom we may not agree, are ways in which we can honor our Father.

Along these lines, many American believers have answered the call of their nation in times of war and peace.  Still others have found different ways to show their allegiance to the nation that they call home through other various acts of service.

In every age, and among each generation, there has been strife and conflict.  We shouldn’t expect any more or less, since we’re all human.  Yet, America is a sum – a total, of the people who call it “Home”.  From the diversity of its population to the brilliant landscapes, we remember with a grateful heart all that God has blessed us with.  It’s along these lines that many old church hymnals included a few patriotic anthems amongst their pages, as Christians chose to be thankful for God’s blessings on their land and petitioned their Creator to protect and draw them back to Him.

I hope that the following words will serve as a reminder of the blessings that God has bestowed on this nation.

“AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL”

Katharine Lee Bates, 1893

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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Rabbits and Gardens

I had stopped at my parents’ place one evening after work.  Pulling up near the house, this wild rabbit was in their driveway.  Getting out of my vehicle, the bunny hopped into a nearby garden – and then stopped.  I was able to get this picture before it moved away from among the young plants.

Like Dad and Mom, my wife and I have also had rabbit problems this year.  A doe chose to build a nest about two feet from our garden.  As a result, we lost a couple of new tomato plants that the young bunnies decided to turn into food.  They also nibbled on a few pepper plant leaves, before apparently deciding that they didn’t need extra spice in their lives!

Growing up, my sister and I raised rabbits, so I’ve always enjoyed watching them.  However, I can understand why Mr. McGregor was upset with Peter Rabbit!  My garden wasn’t intended to be the buffet for some critters.

How often are you and I like those rabbits?  We may find ourselves getting into mischief – doing things and going where we shouldn’t.  Our Creator has given us boundaries to protect and keep us out of places – and gardens – that may cause us pain or trouble.

As we think about those rabbits, let’s be careful to stay out of harm’s way.

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.)

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Contour Guidance

It may be a little hard to tell, but part of this field is being farmed using the contour method. You can see the one row going off in the middle of the picture. Another row follows along the tree line along the right side of the picture.

Here in the Appalachian foothills of eastern Ohio, contour farming is common. Unlike flat land where all of a field can be cultivated, farmland on the side of a hill has to be done like this. It helps to control and prevent water runoff – allowing the crops to get much needed moisture to grow. This type of hillside farming also minimizes erosion from plowed fields.

This picture is also a great image of how our Creator sometimes guides you and me. If we didn’t have His guidance to help us navigate the ebbs and flows of life, how would you and I survive?

As another growing season takes place, these fields allow us a unique glimpse into how the Father takes care of each person.

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.)

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Signs of Spring

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.)

 

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A Late Winter Sunrise

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.)

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How Great Thou Art!

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.)

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Old Dirt Roads

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.)

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An Iced Fence

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.)

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When the Sap Runs

Looking out of my dining room window as I wrote this, I could see remaining islands of white among patches of green grass.  It’s the last days of February and spring is almost here.  Robins have started to return to the nearby trees, as the last piles and patches of snow melt away.

Amongst this late winter backdrop is another common sight for this area are bags, buckets and plastic lines suspended from Maple trees. As the temperatures fluctuate, drawing the sap out of those trees, the rich brown liquid that’s collected is cooked down in many sugar houses like this.

Many of us enjoy the results of this processing as we pour the rich, amber liquid over pancakes or use it as the means to sweeten different foods and beverages.

These little shacks and the syrup that flows from them is also a reminder of the goodness of God. We see His blessings all around us – even if you and I don’t recognize them. Like the sap in Maple trees, God’s gifts are often given to us disguised in problems, adversity and times that stretch us. Further, like maple sap being processed into syrup, you and I must go through periods of refinement and “cooking down” that help to make us into the product – people that God can use.

Just like a Saturday morning treat of pancakes covered with butter and syrup, are God’s blessings given to us at the right time. These little shacks are a reminder of those gifts.

Have a great day!  😊

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” – Psalm 34:8 (NIV)

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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