Brenda’s Blog – November 3, 2015

“Why are all those trees sitting out there in the field?”

Driving through rural America, I could see miles and miles of farmland. “America the Beautiful” always comes to mind. As I topped a rise, I noticed a strange grove of tall evergreens, flanked by smaller trees, and then a hedge of shrubs. It looked out of place among the crops.

I approached the area and saw the house nestled among this great wall of greenery. This was not a random planting, but a purposeful grouping of trees creating a windbreak and protection for the house. The wind which blew across the fields had nothing to stop its impact unless a natural wall existed.

The residents of this house wisely constructed a shield against the weather.

I started thinking about the need for emotional, professional, and relational windbreaks. We are vulnerable to the ravages of negativity, misunderstanding, and hostility. We are open to those who accost us. What can we do? How can we help others? By building windbreaks!

How do we do that? By being firmly grounded in the knowledge of ourselves and the knowledge of God. Scripture warns us against being people who are blown by every wind – this way and that. We need to have our values, our character, and our strengths well in hand. When the blustery environment challenges us, we should be like Martin Luther: “Here I stand, I can do no other.” This doesn’t mean we are stubborn, intransigent, and “ornery.” It means we know who we are and are willing to hold because we know how we best make our unique contribution.

And then, we must know who God is. What is His character? What is His message to us? How can we appropriate His grace and mercy? When the storms come, we can be assured of His presence and His care. It doesn’t mean the weather doesn’t get bad – it just means we have a Divine Windbreak.

Brenda’s Blog – October 20, 2015

“The mountains spoil the view.”

Years ago I traveled frequently to the Pacific Northwest. Flying into Portland thrilled me. Leaving the mountains behind made me sigh. On one trip back to Iowa, I sat next to a farmer from Nebraska. As a plane chit-chatter, I said, “Don’t you love seeing the mountains?” “No, I don’t. The mountains block the view.” I was stunned. THE MOUNTAINS WERE THE VIEW! He went on to explain he could step out on his Nebraska porch and see for miles and miles – that was the view he loved.

I realized much of life is based on our own perspective, and experiences. I treasured the majesty of mountains; he resented the way they limited his sight line. For me to establish my preference as the rule would damage any further conversation.

In the last few weeks a dear friend and I traveled through New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas. I eagerly anticipated the ride on the Durango to Silverton narrow gauge steam railroad. The ride through the mountain passes and along the Animas River excited me. My sweet friend politely expressed appreciation for the beauty of the turning leaves, and the mighty rock walls… but with polite reservation.

There were times when the granite cliffs were so close we could literally reach out of the open observation car and touch the rocks. I must admit my breaths were shortened by the altitude and the closed in pathway.

We descended from the heights of Silverton into the open meadows around Durango. “I love this,” was her response as she took a deep breath. To me, it was just high altitude flat lands. To her, it was a place she could finally see the view.

In the next few days we traveled through stark New Mexico into Santa Fe, and finally into Amarillo, TX. “Now, this is what I like!” REALLY? Except for the Cadillac Ranch on I-40 outside town, and the enormous roadside cross, I missed the beauty she saw.

Personality preferences are real. Different perceptions exist. When we only see life through our own framework, we miss so much. My friend taught me to look at acres of Texas Panhandle land with new eyes… and appreciate it greatly. I still love the grandeur of the peaks, but the wideness of the prairie now brings a smile.

Brenda’s Blog – October 6, 2015

“Resurrect!”

My 14 year old grandson and I are reenactors with Neeley’s Roughnecks, an artillery unit. The battle of Elkhorn Tavern (or Pea Ridge) resulted in the loss of nearly 4,000 lives. Men (and women) fought and died on that rolling farmland in Northwestern Arkansas.

This weekend we shared the experience with hundreds of others. Rarely are the guns overrun. The artillery generally stands strong, firing until the end of the battle. However, this time the infantry fell back, leaving the cannons vulnerable. We fought with our implements but were overcome. We fell to the ground by the guns.

“How long do we have to be dead?” was the question I heard from someone nearby. “Until the battle is over” came back the answer.

Finally, the commanding general shouted, “RESURRECT!” At this point we all rose to our feet, shook hands, and packed up to go back to our urban environments.

I could not avoid thinking about the symbolism and the application to our lives. We are all in a battle, aren’t we? Sometimes we win the skirmishes and sometimes we lose. But the battle goes on.

At some point the general will shout throughout all creation, “RESURRECT!” The dead will rise and those who are still living will join them in the air. What an exciting thought.

Applying this to our daily lives makes us think about relationships we have. Aren’t there some which seem to be dead, but can be revived? Aren’t there friends, children, grandchildren, who seem to be dead in sin but hopefully will hear the voice of the Master calling them to life? What about our hard hearts? We may feel dead, but there is life everlasting which is available to us.

Let’s stay in the battle, but let’s know the call is on the horizon – RESURRECTION DAY IS COMING!