Toppled Bush

 

 After all, it is I, the Eternal One your God, who has hold of your right hand, Who whispers in your ear, “Don’t be afraid. I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13 The Voice)

 

Wind battered cypress and oak trees in my yard. Limbs thrashed in every direction during the raging, summer storm. Torrents of rain pelted the lake. Bits of hail hit my windows. 

 

            Thunder and lightning produced a frightening fireworks display as I watched the power of the storm from one window after another. 

 

            Gradually, rain only dimpled the lake. Weary limbs stilled. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Only then did I venture outside to check for damage. 

 

            Pink periwinkles reached for the ground. I trimmed heavy stems. When remaining leaves dried off, most of the flowers stood upright. But no bees buzzed around red and white frazzled blooms on neighboring plants.

 

            Another clearance plant from Lowe’s grew from bedraggled to vibrant and beautiful until the thunderstorm hit. Then the five-foot tall bush leaned almost to the grass but the mass of yellow blooms clung tightly to the toppled plant. The rain soaked ground loosened the sturdy trunk and tipped the healthy plant. 

 

            

            With lower branches removed and less weight on the tilting trunk, I hoped the bush would right itself. That didn’t happen and days of more storms pushed it lower and lower. 

 

            A decision had to be made about the unsightly bush before it fell completely from another storm. Should I cut off more limbs and hope it would stand up? Should I just dig it up and replant?  

 

             First, I cut more branches off as I tried to decide its fate. Before I could put the trimmings in a garbage bag, bees returned to the plant. They stuck furry heads into smiling blooms and collected nectar from the lopsided plant. I stopped working and watched the busy insects.

 

            Although I am allergic to bees, I knew they were too busy to notice me. When I reached down to dispose of the remains, bees flew to the blooms on the ground and sipped nectar. They noticed something worthwhile in the waste. 

 

            I realized trimming didn’t help, but I couldn’t dig up the once beautiful plant. It needed a second chance so I rummaged in my garage for some type of support. I found two short wooden stakes connected with yellow construction tape. Although they were much shorter than the bush, I decided to try. 

 

            At once, I realized a single stake wouldn’t hold the leaning bush. After jamming both stakes into the ground, I struggled to enclose the errant branches in tape. More hands would have made the job much easier. However, I finally surrounded the entire plant and pulled and pulled until it stood as tall as I did. Knots held. I waited for another storm.

 

             In the meantime, roots had a chance to push deeper and hold steady. Bees visited daily. Yellow sunshine blooms made me smile. Although it leaned slightly, the small stakes gave needed support to the crooked bush.    

 

            Months of multiple disasters have caused uneasiness, anger and depression. Difficult circumstances extinguished hope and brought despair. Like the small stakes, our limited strength can help prop up others temporarily. 

 

            Lasting strength, peace and comfort comes from God. 

 

Father, thank you for the strength you give us when we have none of our own. Show us how we can support others and help them know You. Amen

 

                        

Hummingbirds, Bees...

 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV)

 

Spires of flowering plants lined the back of my patio. Bell shaped blooms of red orange and white decorated green stems. Both kinds of flowers came from the clearance rack at Lowe’s. 

 

            A couple of years ago, I dug holes and dropped withered plants into the ground. With plenty of water and sunshine they flourished. Occasionally, I trimmed dead and out of bounds foliage but mostly let them grow on their own.  

 

            Tiny plants grew to be over four feet tall and formed a lovely addition to my garden. They attracted a variety of winged creatures. Monarch butterflies swooped down for a visit. Lizards climbed part way up until the stems swayed with their weight.

 

            Fuzzy bumblebees zoomed from one flower to another. They grabbed onto the flowers and stuck their heads into white and red orange blooms almost every day. 

 

            Although I enjoyed watching all of the visitors, hummingbirds were my favorites. Whirling wings allowed them to hover as their slender beaks dipped into the red orange flowers for delectable treats but they always bypassed the white ones. 

 

            Some days they drank briefly and disappeared. At other times, the pair of teeny birds hung in the air as if by magic above one plant and another before drinking from flower cups. Then they whizzed away. 

 

            At our previous home, Alan put up a hummingbird feeder and meticulously cleaned and filled it with red hummingbird food. Because it was away from the house, we didn’t see many birds come to eat.

 

            After we moved, the feeder remained in the garage. When Alan passed away, I didn’t want another thing to take care of so I gave the feeder away. 

 

            During isolation, I have had more time to appreciate the things around me. I had no idea my clearance rack plants would bring such joy to my garden. Hummingbirds come more frequently or perhaps, I have slowed down and noticed them more. I have also observed other wildlife and plants more closely. 

 

            In addition to increasing gratitude for my retreat on the lake, cherished family and friends have become even more precious. As my world opens up again, I don’t want busyness to overshadow thankfulness of all God has given me. 

 

Heavenly Father, I am so grateful for all you have put into my life. Show me daily how to live for You in the midst of a busy and chaotic world. Amen

 

             

 

Predicted or Unpredicted Storms

 

He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!  Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit^[a] to his height? If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. (Luke 12: 22-32 WEB)

 

Constant, frantic warnings filled the airwaves. Weather maps with colorful lines showed the approaching hurricane’s possible path. For several days, the relentless forecasts dominated the news. 

 

            They admonished us to prepare for the hurricane by purchasing batteries, water, medications, and food. Put important papers in plastic bags. Fill cars with gas. My mind shut them off their admonitions. 

 

            Even though the hype continued, the weather forecasters admitted that wind speeds dropped. The horrible storm was no longer even a hurricane and barely a tropical storm. However, many people felt panic at what might happen. 

 

            The storm proceeded up from the Caribbean and close to Florida. Its path shifted back and forth. Coming toward our area and then not coming. What were we to believe? Instead of being afraid, I turned off the TV and went about my life. 

 

            Only when my brother texted from Georgia about the storm, did I check the weather report again. At that time, it was again headed my way. 

 

            The following day I stayed home and waited for the storm. Thankfully, my neighborhood received no downpours or blustery winds. Only a little rain came our way. Days of worry for nothing.

 

            A few days later, summer thunderstorms resumed with a vengeance. With little warning, the storm hit. Rain swept across my patio. Trees by the lake whipped wildly in the gusts. Hail beat against my windows. 

 

            Dark clouds brought evening early. With the ferocious gales whipping around my house, I kept looking outside from one window to another. Then I gathered candles and matches in case the electricity went off. 

 

            For a few days, thunderstorms rocked the area. Those normal, summer storms produced more rain, wind and hail than the much publicized possible hurricane.  

 

            The anticipated hurricane caused worry and anxiety but no catastrophe for my part of the state. Often people anguish over big tragedies that never occur. 

 

            Then we can be hit with unexpected adversities on a smaller scale but no less harmful. Being prepared for emergencies is advantageous whether large or small. But trusting God can eliminate panic and desperation. He stilled the storm on the Sea of Galilee and can still our storms too. 

 

Loving Father, still our minds and hearts. Help us seek you instead of worrying about possible storms. Amen

Another Crisis?

Charts of neighboring counties with Corona virus cases and deaths flashed on the screen. A colored US map displayed states with increasing numbers of Covid. 

            As if that wasn’t bad enough, stations provided continuous coverage of a possible hurricane for Florida. For days, maps of the Caribbean and the southern United States displayed possible tracks for the named storm. They fixated on a storm that vascillated from a tropical storm to a category 1 hurricane and back again. The tracks moved back and forth. 

            Viewers were urged to stock up on water and batteries. Get papers in order. Fill cars with gas. During hurricane season those things should be done normally. 

            However, every time I heard the weather forecast, it sounded like we were going to be hit with a category 5 hurricane. Stations vied for viewers with constant, frantic predictions. 

            I brought outside potted plants inside and pushed patio furniture away from the screens. I filled my car with gas and was off to my granddaughter’s softball tournament. 

            For two days, I watched teen girls play softball and enjoyed time with my family. Just being outside with people and away from the gloomy news made me happy. 

            The last day of the tournament my brother, Joe, texted me to see how I was doing and asked about the storm. When I told him I didn’t know where it was, he told me I should check its status. 

            After arriving home, I finally did turn on the news to more hype. Supposedly, it was headed my way but winds might only be 30 to 40 mph. Our normal summer storms could be worse than that.  

            Of course, I should be prepared but not obsessed with either crisis the media projects. 

            Instead, early each morning I read the Bible and pray. That is more beneficial than becoming hysterical and anxious from media reports. Comfort, strength and direction from God’s Word gets me through every day. Jesus is my focus instead of the Covid 19 and a tropical storm that might become a hurricane and might come my way. 

            I am not totally ignoring the world but don’t want to get entangled in the rampant agitation, panic and terror. 

            When I read posts and listen to various people, I keep wondering. “Would Jesus say that? Would he do that? “

            He admonished us to love God and love others. He did that even when He didn’t agree with them. I can’t change the world nor the opinions of those who believe differently from me but I can make a difference in my little part of the world by trying to be more like Jesus. 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another. (Matthew 13:34 NKJ)

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (Matthew 14:27 NKJ)

Jesus, turn hearts toward you and show us how to love others. Give us peace in this unsettled world. Amen.