Waiting on my Bread

Rain shortened my early morning walk. All day, I watched drops hit the lake. Clouds covered the sky like a heavy quilt. 

            Although rain continued and kept me inside, I found plenty of tasks to accomplish. Dreariness produced a sense of comfort so I snuggled on my couch with a book. 

            A little while later, my mom’s bread machine called to me. Ingredients for oat bread lined my counter. Each one went into the metal container. Then I pushed buttons to begin the process. Kneading began with a hum and then a time of rest.  

            Three hours later, the aroma of freshly baked bread filled my home. Because the machine hadn’t been used in several years, I didn’t trust the timer. Twice, I opened the lid to see if it was done. Over and over, I looked through the glass on the top to see if it looked done. Reluctantly, I waited to hear the beep that baking was finished. 

            Although the smell called me to eat a piece of bread immediately, I remembered details from the instruction booklet. Take bread out of machine. Turn it over onto a wire rack. Let it cool before slicing. 

            Anxiously, I waited and watched the lightly browned loaf while I tried to keep myself busy with household tasks. The bread enticed me but I resisted. 

            Finally, I cut a small piece of the delicious looking goodie. With a touch of butter and berry jelly from a friend, I savored the warm bread. Later in the day, I enjoyed another slice before sharing part of the loaf with friends. 

            If I had taken the bread out of the machine early because of my impatience, it would have been doughy and inedible. Before cooling, the knife would have squashed the bread into a lumpy mess. Although waiting was difficult for me, the final product brought a wonderful outcome.

            During the pandemic, waiting has become normal. Impatience and anxiety increased. But remembering that God is in control helps reduce nervousness. 

            His timetable is usually not the same as mine. I need to wait on Him and read His instruction book, the Bible, for the best results.

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8 NKJ)

Father, waiting on you produces patience and better outcomes than when I try to take over. Amen

Glimmers of Hope in the Pandemic

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.(Proverbs 3:5-7 KJV)

A cloak of black wrapped the sky when I stepped onto my patio. Twinkling stars and bright planets created a wondrous display. The largest and brightest object in the inky sky was a slice of moon which glowed through a gap between the trees. 

            A chorus of crickets droned before dawn. Traffic hummed on a highway outside my community. 

            Normally, I stay inside until the sun appears since I enjoy the sunrises and wakening of the morning. But the darkness seemed appropriate during my time of isolation. Beyond the patio light, I only saw a few stars, a planet and sliver of the moon. 

            Blackness concealed bears, armadillos, coyotes, eagles, cranes, turkeys and other wildlife. All have been spotted in my neighborhood. They could have been waiting in my yard just outside my patio and ready to pounce, rip or attack me. 

            In the daylight, I love watching a variety of birds, deer, turtles, butterflies and other creatures. They provide enjoyment. However in the darkness, my mind speculates about what dangers lurk outside my screen. 

            In the uncertainty of the pandemic, the mind conjures all sorts of horrible scenarios. What ifs can fill days and take over sleepless nights. Fear and distress replace peace and reason. 

            As the sky turned from black to a pale blue, birds awoke and sang a cheery welcome. 

            Just as dawn comes each day, we will come out of it. 

Gradually, our turbulent world will emerge from the pandemic with glimmers of hope.

            Each day, we can choose how to respond to the difficulties. Every morning I spend time reading the Bible, praying and delighting in the beauty of God’s creation. 

            Instead of constantly watching stories of doom on the news, I find uplifting shows and books. I think of creative ways to reach out during social distancing. 

            The books of Psalms and Proverbs provide wisdom, hope and encouragement instead of imagined stories of destruction.  

Loving Father, hold us in your arms as we navigate an uncertain pandemic. Show us your love and strength. Give us hope in the despair of the world. Amen

  

Small but Powerful

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another; not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer; contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.(Romans 12:9-16 WEB)

A string of tiny solar lights wrapped a wooden plant stand on my patio. At night, they twinkled in the dark. But during the day, nothing about the plain, green strands stood out. They dangled from the top to the bottom of the four-foot pole. 

            Sunlight streamed through the trees and onto my patio. A glittering surprise caught my attention. Spider webs filled in spaces between the lights. Intricate designs created a silky masterpiece. 

            A busy spider or group of them wove webs from one plant to another. Crisscrossing strands joined pots of aloe to the stand and down to herbs at the base with lovely lacework. Diligent workers must have taken days, weeks or even months to produce the artistic designs.

            Day after day, I sat in my chair next to the plant stand to read the Bible, pray and read devotionals. Each morning the lake beyond my yard greeted me with wonderful wildlife. Often, egrets, bald eagles, turkeys, sand hill cranes, and deer visited. 

            Although I loved the beauty outside my patio, I missed the marvelous creations next to me. I searched for what was far away but ignored what was near

. 

            During uncertainty of Covid 19, unrest of the protests, and turbulence of the riots, I searched on TV, the radio and the Internet for glimpses of hope. I wanted to see what important people could do to alleviate world tragedies.

            I felt helpless and wondered what one person could do. God spoke to me through His Word and a dear friend. Looking backwards doesn’t solve problems. We need to look ahead and make positive changes.

            Within my world, I can pray for peaceful change and understanding. I can offer hope to those in turmoil near me. Give words of encouragement. Thank those who help me. Listen more than I speak. Instead of waiting for someone more prominent than me to solve the difficulties, I can make a difference in those in front of me. 

            The wee spiders did what they were made to do in a small way but with a powerful impact. If everyone did that, what a difference we could collectively make. 

Loving Father, help us contribute to peace and understanding in our part of your world. With your instructions and obedience, we can affect change. Amen