Tag Archive for: Time

Milk Cans and Memory Lane

A trip down memory lane could describe this picture. This farm once was a stop on one of my grandfather’s can milk routes more than fifty years ago. When I showed my father this picture, it brought back many memories from his childhood. The farmer that used to live here would bring his cans of milk to the end of the lane to be picked up.

Over the past half century, the elements, time and changes have all joined together as this farm slowly fades away. The muddy lane and overcast atmosphere of a midwinter day matches the condition of the old barn that’s slowly falling down and succumbing to nature – fading into another story of a past era.

It’s important to remember the past. Memories and pictures help link us to our heritage and our loved ones who have gone before us.

Have a great day! 😀

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Changing Seasons

The long hours of fall harvest for many farmers is over for another year.  Yet, in many Amish fields around here, one can still find corn shocks standing – even after the beginning of a new year.  In fact, the shocks may seem to look out of place with the snow on the ground.  However, they are often left to dry out further before being ground into livestock feed.

Looking at this picture, my mind goes to thoughts of both fall and winter. As I think about this, I’m reminded that there’s a season for everything. In fact, the events and experiences of our lives are often broken up into short segments of time.

These periods overlap as we make transitions throughout life. The combinations of these various seasons may resemble a patchwork quilt.

All of the different experiences and events from our lives helps to define who we are and impacts how we react to different situations. In many instances, these various seasons don’t just affect us, but also others with whom we come into contact.

Nature often has a way of pointing out life lessons.  These corn shocks in a winter field offer another opportunity to reflect on the seasons of life.

Have a great day!  🙂

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…”  –  Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)

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The Unhitched Disk

Driving by a field where corn had recently been picked, I found this disk. It was waiting for a team of horses to pull it back and forth across the field.

Sitting there, that disk was a reminder of a couple of truths.

First, there’s a season for everything. Just as there are times to plant and harvest crops, each of us experience seasons – such as when we go to school, work and have families. Inside of these years, are smaller seasons when we’re blessed with different opportunities – things that we may only get a brief chance to experience.

The other truth that emerges from this picture is that most things in life – at least those things that really matter, don’t always come easily. We may have to sow and nurture our opportunities and dreams to see them come to fruition. In the end though, the final outcome isn’t based on just us. While we have a responsibility to work with all of our hearts, God has the final say – knowing what we need to draw us closer to Him.

Even in those quiet moments like we see here, there are still things happening behind the scenes. Sometimes we just have to work at quieting our lives so that we can hear the voice of our Creator more clearly.

Have a great day! 🙂

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When We Slow Down

I was on my way to make a delivery when I saw this sunrise. Driving down a frozen gravel road, the slower speed allowed me a few moments to enjoy this early morning scene. With no other traffic around, I stopped to take this picture.

As I drove away, I couldn’t help but think about the fast-paced world that many of us find ourselves caught living in. Even with all of our technology, life seems to continually grow more hectic.

It may seem like we’re accomplishing more things in our sped up world. But, at what cost? It seems as if you and I, along with our loved ones, often end up paying enormous prices as we try to find a balance.

Perhaps, it would be a good thing to slow down. After all, we weren’t made to continually be on the go. In fact, we see this in the Bible. In addition to Sabbaths, God appointed other times to rest and spend time in fellowship with Him and others.

As we go through life, we shouldn’t squander the time and opportunities that God gives us. Yet, I also believe that He doesn’t want us to be so busy that we lose our focus on Him and those around us.

This picture reminds us that something as simple as a sunrise or sunset can serve as a reminder to find our joy in our Creator, and to love the people who He brings into our lives.

Have a great day! 😀

“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” – Psalm 46:10 (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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Getting Ready for Spring

I had to stop for this tractor and liquid manure spreader recently. It may have cost a minute or two of my time, but the other guy’s safety was well worth it.

What you don’t see is the operator behind his equipment. He was using a push broom to sweep mud off the road that his equipment had brought there. The man was being a good neighbor to those who lived around there.

With spring just around the corner, many farmers have started getting their fields ready for planting. This picture is a great reminder that we need to be careful with the increased activity on many rural roadways.

Perhaps, it may also serve to help us remember to slow down through life in general.

Have a great day!

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

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An Old Barn and Chevy Pick-Up

Sometimes you stumble upon a fascinating scene that’s hidden on some small dirt road.

That was definitely the case when I came across this old Chevrolet pickup parked under a barn overhang.  After making a delivery at a nearby residence, I stopped long enough to grab this photo of that scene.

While I had driven past that barn on many occasions, that day was the first time that I had seen that Chevy parked there.  It was an image that seemed to be jump out of some painting or old picture.

The vintage truck and old barn serve as reminders of a different era.

There was a time when generations of family members spent much of their time together.  Fathers and sons would work side by side to plant and harvest crops.  Families would join together for times of prayer and Sunday dinners.

Of course, things were made to last back then.  Buildings were built more for function, than beauty.  People seemed to be more resourceful – not always chasing after the current fads, but rather they often made more effort to take care of what they already had.

This scene is a great visual reminder of our need to slow down and rest.  That’s the opposite of what we are often seem to believe – as most of us are now constantly moving.

We’re inundated with new technologies today that are supposed to make our lives easier and save us time.  Yet, it seems as if many of us have less time for our family and friends – the things that truly matter in life.

Likewise, social media often promises to keep us more connected with others.  But instead, as many of our friendships are maintained behind computer and phone screens, we lack the physical and emotional aspects of our relationships with loved ones.  We must “unplug” from our devices to really connect with our family and friends.

As I contemplate that old truck and barn, I’m reminded that some of life’s best lessons are found on those little gravel roads.  It’s in those places where forgotten memories often have a way of helping us see what is truly important.

Have a great day!

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

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