We live by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7); In this world you will have troubles. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
Blackberry picking can be tricky. I have found that I miss blackberries simply because I didn't see them under a leaf or above my head on a tree branch. My sight can't be trusted all the time, so I have made it a habit to approach an area from different directions and from different sight levels.
This practice got me to thinking about sight. Several studies have been done that show how much our eyes can't be trusted. Actually, it's our brain. We program what we see at times. For example, I may be looking for a pair of scissors and in my mind they have green handles. I'll tear the place apart looking for green-handled scissors and not see the orange-handled scissors on the kitchen table.
This reality is also played out in our faith. Paul simply states we live by faith, not by sight. Our sight tells us the circumstances around us are overwhelming. We've been put through the ringer and wonder where God is and how any of this could be for our best interest.
Paul suffered a lot for his faith (see 2 Cor. 11:23-12:10). What he physically saw and experienced, however, was trumped by his firm belief in Jesus. As he stated in 2 Cor. 4:7-10:
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Despite all that he faced, Paul still trusted God and walked by faith and not by sight, as we must. We can't see the big picture, only God can. It takes radical trust to live this way, but is there a better way to live?
Another thing we must understand about this walk is the fact we are going to get wounded. I know when I pick berries I am going to get scratched no matter how much I prepare. When I lean in to a bush and then reach through the thorns there's no escaping the fact I'm going to get scratched, sometimes deeply enough to form a scar. That's what happens to dedicated blackberry pickers.
Christians get scars, too, for a number of different reasons. We live in a fallen world that is not the God intended it to be and we are not untouched by all that means. We are not immune to disease, accidents, crime, natural disasters, wars, famine, or anything else we humans inflict on our planet and ourselves.
Jesus told his disciples that in this world we will have troubles, or tribulations as some translators prefer. That word means to be pressed down as in a vise. We all can relate to that, even Paul who said he was "pressed on every side, but not crushed."
Wounds also come from God himself, either to strengthen us or correct us. I liken this to the story I've heard many times about the shepherd who had a lamb that loved to run away. The lamb didn't understand the danger, but the shepherd did. After finding the lamb off on another adventure, the shepherd caught him and broke his leg. He then bound the leg and carried the lamb until he healed and was able to walk on his own. The little lamb stopped running away.
God sometimes wounds to heal. When those times come we need to stop complaining and wondering why so we can lean our head back on his chest and hear his heartbeat of love.
Wounds also come from our own doing. Let's face it, we do dumb things in our lives, dumb things that leave scars to remind us of the dumb things we do.
When they're all taken together, our scars tell us a lot about ourselves. They each have a story to tell of lessons learned. Isn’t it interesting that our scars can unlock the door of someone else's heart? What I mean by that is people can relate to us and we to them by our scars, the old "been there, done that" scenario, and that interaction can lead to great spiritual healing.
Earlier in his second letter the church at Corinth, the battered and scarred Paul the Apostle wrote, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (2 Cor. 1:3,4).
We can comfort others because we have received comfort from God and we have the scars to prove it and the knowledge that, despite all that happens in the world, Jesus has overcome the world.
What we need more of in the church are people who are willing to show their scars, to live honest and transparent lives so that others can find the healing they need. What a comfort to know that on this journey of life there are others who know what I know, who have felt the pain I have felt and who have found the answer to the healing I so desperately need and are willing to share that healing with me.
Blackberry pickers shouldn't always believe that what they see is all there is and they need to be willing to get scratched to reach the berries. Christians need to learn how to live by faith and not by sight, trusting that what they see is not all that there is. They also have to be willing to accept the wounds that will come followed by the healing, which will leave scars that can unlock the door to another person's heart.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Preparation and Action
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22
To put a lot of preparation into picking blackberries and then not going out to pick them is a self-deception. Nothing gets accomplished and the harsh winter winds will not be softened by the taste of summer.
All excuses aside (heat, bugs, business, etc.), if you prepare to pick berries then pick berries. As the famous ad slogan goes, just do it.
To hear the word of God and not do it is also a terrible form of self-deception. James likens it to a man who looks in a mirror and forgets what he looks like when he walks away.
The word of God is that mirror. It is humanity at its best and worst. All the heroes are presented as they were, good and bad traits alike. As we read it and study it, it holds up a mirror to our soul and challenges us to live up to what God expects.
James says a person who hears the word and does it is like a man who studies himself intently and sees how he measures up. This self-reflection then affects who and what he is and does in the world. It is preparation followed by action, a combination that does not let him (or her) soon forget what he (or she) saw in the mirror.
Blackberry picking has reinforced an old axiom for me--successful living is marked by preparation followed by action. It always bears fruit, in this case blackberries.
I've learned over the years that preparation without action is self-deception while action with preparation is self-defeating. How is this played out in out lives? Later in chapter 1, James mentions two areas--our words and our actions.
The tongue, as I've learned and James later points out, is a tough thing to bridle. In my early days as a Christian I used to think it meant curse words, so I tried hard to develop a Christian equivalent like "golly gee whiz" or "gosh darn." Not that I'm older I've come to realize that's childish thinking.
Based on what I've read, I think James is talking about a tongue that may not swear but easily uses words to harm others. Unfortunately, I see it playing out in our lives as people who say they are Christian hold up signs that read "God hates Fags." This kind of word us is far worse than a simple curse word. It reveals wrong thinking like bigotry, hate, racism, greed, vanity, and lust, words that reveal the true nature of the heart and the nature of the person who uses them. This is a person who never let the word of God change them, who heard the word and forgot it or even worse, ignored it.
James also mentions our actions. As with our words, which should be used to build up others, our actions are also directed at others. James mentions widows and orphans (vs. 27)--in other words, the needy around us. Our lives need to be other focused. That message doesn't seem to be getting through to a Christian culture that is so "me" focused.
God promises a blessing or the one who hears the word and does it (vs. 25), but we have careful with that word "blessing." It has become corrupted by people who preach that God wants to "bless" us with more stuff--a bigger house, a better job, a nice car, or a big bank account. I don't think that's what he wants at all. If we practice what we've learned, the blessing is seeing someone else being blessed by God.
I recently picked some red raspberries. My wife made jam and on one occasion I was able to give a container of jam to a friend. Her eyes lit up and she was so happy. Her favorite snack was peanut butter and jelly and she was thrilled to get homemade raspberry jelly. That smile was worth the preparation and the action
I think the words of Jesus sums it up best. In Luke 6:46 he asks, "Why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do what I say?" It's like a man who looks in a mirror then forgets what he looks like, or a berry picker who prepares and doesn't pick. Not doing what Jesus has called us to do is the worst form of self-deception there is.
Up next: Walking by faith, not by sight.
To put a lot of preparation into picking blackberries and then not going out to pick them is a self-deception. Nothing gets accomplished and the harsh winter winds will not be softened by the taste of summer.
All excuses aside (heat, bugs, business, etc.), if you prepare to pick berries then pick berries. As the famous ad slogan goes, just do it.
To hear the word of God and not do it is also a terrible form of self-deception. James likens it to a man who looks in a mirror and forgets what he looks like when he walks away.
The word of God is that mirror. It is humanity at its best and worst. All the heroes are presented as they were, good and bad traits alike. As we read it and study it, it holds up a mirror to our soul and challenges us to live up to what God expects.
James says a person who hears the word and does it is like a man who studies himself intently and sees how he measures up. This self-reflection then affects who and what he is and does in the world. It is preparation followed by action, a combination that does not let him (or her) soon forget what he (or she) saw in the mirror.
Blackberry picking has reinforced an old axiom for me--successful living is marked by preparation followed by action. It always bears fruit, in this case blackberries.
I've learned over the years that preparation without action is self-deception while action with preparation is self-defeating. How is this played out in out lives? Later in chapter 1, James mentions two areas--our words and our actions.
The tongue, as I've learned and James later points out, is a tough thing to bridle. In my early days as a Christian I used to think it meant curse words, so I tried hard to develop a Christian equivalent like "golly gee whiz" or "gosh darn." Not that I'm older I've come to realize that's childish thinking.
Based on what I've read, I think James is talking about a tongue that may not swear but easily uses words to harm others. Unfortunately, I see it playing out in our lives as people who say they are Christian hold up signs that read "God hates Fags." This kind of word us is far worse than a simple curse word. It reveals wrong thinking like bigotry, hate, racism, greed, vanity, and lust, words that reveal the true nature of the heart and the nature of the person who uses them. This is a person who never let the word of God change them, who heard the word and forgot it or even worse, ignored it.
James also mentions our actions. As with our words, which should be used to build up others, our actions are also directed at others. James mentions widows and orphans (vs. 27)--in other words, the needy around us. Our lives need to be other focused. That message doesn't seem to be getting through to a Christian culture that is so "me" focused.
God promises a blessing or the one who hears the word and does it (vs. 25), but we have careful with that word "blessing." It has become corrupted by people who preach that God wants to "bless" us with more stuff--a bigger house, a better job, a nice car, or a big bank account. I don't think that's what he wants at all. If we practice what we've learned, the blessing is seeing someone else being blessed by God.
I recently picked some red raspberries. My wife made jam and on one occasion I was able to give a container of jam to a friend. Her eyes lit up and she was so happy. Her favorite snack was peanut butter and jelly and she was thrilled to get homemade raspberry jelly. That smile was worth the preparation and the action
I think the words of Jesus sums it up best. In Luke 6:46 he asks, "Why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do what I say?" It's like a man who looks in a mirror then forgets what he looks like, or a berry picker who prepares and doesn't pick. Not doing what Jesus has called us to do is the worst form of self-deception there is.
Up next: Walking by faith, not by sight.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Preparation Part 2
One of the most important aspects of preparing for the blackberry season is scouting for the berries. This process begins in late June and continues until it's time to pick the berries. I like to walk familiar paths and trails looking for green berries. I also look for changes from last year, from downed trees to brush cuts made by the landowners.
In my meditations on this aspect of preparation I've noted two things that relate to my walk with God. The first is the importance of keeping an open mind and the second is the knowledge of that open mind is limited.
Walking the familiar paths and trails can be a benefit but it can also be a problem if that is all I do. I can miss a lot of berries if my eyes are always on the familiar.
There is a danger of falling into a routine. The danger is not the routine itself but allowing the routine to become all there is. When that happens you can minimize the possibility of surprise and wonder.
Just recently I was on a scouting walk with my beagle Reggie. As she looked for rabbits I looked for blackberries. I decided to follow her into the brush when I noticed something--raspberries. Ripe raspberries. I usually see those when I'm about ready to pick blackberries, but here they were in June, far earlier than I'd ever seen them. After finding this bush, I looked around and noticed many more red berries hanging around the trails I walked. Had I not followed Reggie off the beaten path I would have probably walked right by the raspberries not noticing they were ripe and ready to be picked. This event reminded me of how important it is to keep an open mind when walking and be willing to go off the beaten path. It was also a clear indication that despite my experience my knowledge is limited.
It is hard to admit that I don't know it all. I can relate to that old saying, "I'm not always right but I'm never wrong."
On one scouting walk I noticed how the landowner had taken a tractor and brush hog and cut a wider path in areas where I have found some great blackberry bushes. Some of those bushes were now gone or cut back. In addition, new cuts were made right through some nice patches of blackberry bushes exposing them to the harsh sun and turning some of them brown.
I was upset about the whole thing. I imagined a conversation I could have had with the landowner before the cut where I could have shown him or her the blackberry bushes and discussed the great harvests I've had from them in the past. I would offer to pick give them some if they'd just let things stay the way there were.
When it came time to pick the berries, I suddenly realized how what I what I thought was a waste turned into a bonus. The cutting had made the bushes healthier in some cases and gave other bushes access to sunlight, something they really didn't have before. The new paths opened ways into areas I didn't know contained some nice blackberry patches, patches I had missed because they had been hidden in the deep brush. The landowner did me a favor, but at the time I didn't see it that way.
Isaiah chapter 55 is titled in my Bible The Invitation to Salvation.
In it, God through his prophet invites his people to come, to simply come and be restored. He challenges their preconceived ideas about salvation and encourages them to have an open mind. He also clearly reminds them they don't know everything.
What does that mean for us today? It means that if we keep an open mind we can avoid putting God in a box. That really helps when what we're facing is overwhelming and we can't see a way out. Letting God be God opens the door for surprises and wonder. Isn't that what miracles Jesus performed are all about?
If we also accept the fact that our knowledge is limited, then we can live the words of Paul from Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Next week: Get going!
In my meditations on this aspect of preparation I've noted two things that relate to my walk with God. The first is the importance of keeping an open mind and the second is the knowledge of that open mind is limited.
Walking the familiar paths and trails can be a benefit but it can also be a problem if that is all I do. I can miss a lot of berries if my eyes are always on the familiar.
There is a danger of falling into a routine. The danger is not the routine itself but allowing the routine to become all there is. When that happens you can minimize the possibility of surprise and wonder.
Just recently I was on a scouting walk with my beagle Reggie. As she looked for rabbits I looked for blackberries. I decided to follow her into the brush when I noticed something--raspberries. Ripe raspberries. I usually see those when I'm about ready to pick blackberries, but here they were in June, far earlier than I'd ever seen them. After finding this bush, I looked around and noticed many more red berries hanging around the trails I walked. Had I not followed Reggie off the beaten path I would have probably walked right by the raspberries not noticing they were ripe and ready to be picked. This event reminded me of how important it is to keep an open mind when walking and be willing to go off the beaten path. It was also a clear indication that despite my experience my knowledge is limited.
It is hard to admit that I don't know it all. I can relate to that old saying, "I'm not always right but I'm never wrong."
On one scouting walk I noticed how the landowner had taken a tractor and brush hog and cut a wider path in areas where I have found some great blackberry bushes. Some of those bushes were now gone or cut back. In addition, new cuts were made right through some nice patches of blackberry bushes exposing them to the harsh sun and turning some of them brown.
I was upset about the whole thing. I imagined a conversation I could have had with the landowner before the cut where I could have shown him or her the blackberry bushes and discussed the great harvests I've had from them in the past. I would offer to pick give them some if they'd just let things stay the way there were.
When it came time to pick the berries, I suddenly realized how what I what I thought was a waste turned into a bonus. The cutting had made the bushes healthier in some cases and gave other bushes access to sunlight, something they really didn't have before. The new paths opened ways into areas I didn't know contained some nice blackberry patches, patches I had missed because they had been hidden in the deep brush. The landowner did me a favor, but at the time I didn't see it that way.
Isaiah chapter 55 is titled in my Bible The Invitation to Salvation.
In it, God through his prophet invites his people to come, to simply come and be restored. He challenges their preconceived ideas about salvation and encourages them to have an open mind. He also clearly reminds them they don't know everything.
What does that mean for us today? It means that if we keep an open mind we can avoid putting God in a box. That really helps when what we're facing is overwhelming and we can't see a way out. Letting God be God opens the door for surprises and wonder. Isn't that what miracles Jesus performed are all about?
If we also accept the fact that our knowledge is limited, then we can live the words of Paul from Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Next week: Get going!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Preparation
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. Ephesians 6:11
Picking blackberries can be a painful undertaking if you're not prepared for what you might face. It would be nice if they are all located along an easy to access trail or path but my experience has been the opposite. Many of the places where I find the best berries are covered with high weeds, thorn bushes and crabapple trees. It can be an adventure just reaching the place where I want to pick.
With that in mind I have some preparing to do before I go into the field, especially when it comes to what I wear. Over the years I have developed a berry picking "armor" I wear when I know reaching the berries will be a challenge.
The first thing I do is put on a light t-shirt and blue jeans. I then put on my high leather hiking boots tucking in my pant legs to prevent then from getting wet, especially in the morning when the dew is heavy. All of this is just the beginning.
After the first layer of clothes I put on a second, heavier layer. A long sleeve heavy denim shirt will help keep the scratches off my arms. I also have a pair of heavy brush chaps I put over my jeans to help keep thorns out of my legs.
The final touches include a pair of fingerless leather motorcycle riding gloves to prevent scratches on the back of my hands and a hat to keep the flies off my head. After a spray or two of a good bug repellent, I'm ready to go.
I must be sight for someone who happens to be walking by but that doesn't bother me. This outfit has reduced scratches, embedded thorns and bug bites over the years and made the task at hand a bit more tolerable.
In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul makes sure the readers understand that they have some preparation to do for the spiritual struggles ahead. Since we are spiritual beings first, how we fight this battle affects our physical well being and peace of mind.
Paul encourages them to put on the full armor of God since, in reality, the battle belongs to the Lord. We can stand when we are armored with his truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the Spirit. In addition, as Paul points out, our primary weapon in this struggle is prayer. As a soldier needs to stay in constant communication with headquarters, so do we need to stay in constant communication with God.
There is one addition I think that needs to be made to this armor. What Paul describes is the covering a soldier puts on or the things he carries, such as a belt, a breastplate, shoes, helmet, shield and sword. Other than the shoes (I don't think wore socks!), everything else would go on top of the clothes the soldier was wearing. I think a person is best outfitted for battle when they are clothed with humility.
In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul extols the virtue of humility. In chapter 2 he writes, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves (vs. 3)." He goes on to hold up Jesus as the perfect example of a warrior for God clothed with humility and that our attitude should be the same as his.
As a berry picker I know the importance of preparing myself for the task at hand, of dressing to protect myself from what I might run into. The same is true for anyone who wants to serve God in this life. We too have to make preparations, to clothe ourselves in humility and the armor of God, if we are to be successful in doing what we are called to do.
Up next: Preparation Part 2
Picking blackberries can be a painful undertaking if you're not prepared for what you might face. It would be nice if they are all located along an easy to access trail or path but my experience has been the opposite. Many of the places where I find the best berries are covered with high weeds, thorn bushes and crabapple trees. It can be an adventure just reaching the place where I want to pick.
With that in mind I have some preparing to do before I go into the field, especially when it comes to what I wear. Over the years I have developed a berry picking "armor" I wear when I know reaching the berries will be a challenge.
The first thing I do is put on a light t-shirt and blue jeans. I then put on my high leather hiking boots tucking in my pant legs to prevent then from getting wet, especially in the morning when the dew is heavy. All of this is just the beginning.
After the first layer of clothes I put on a second, heavier layer. A long sleeve heavy denim shirt will help keep the scratches off my arms. I also have a pair of heavy brush chaps I put over my jeans to help keep thorns out of my legs.
The final touches include a pair of fingerless leather motorcycle riding gloves to prevent scratches on the back of my hands and a hat to keep the flies off my head. After a spray or two of a good bug repellent, I'm ready to go.
I must be sight for someone who happens to be walking by but that doesn't bother me. This outfit has reduced scratches, embedded thorns and bug bites over the years and made the task at hand a bit more tolerable.
In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul makes sure the readers understand that they have some preparation to do for the spiritual struggles ahead. Since we are spiritual beings first, how we fight this battle affects our physical well being and peace of mind.
Paul encourages them to put on the full armor of God since, in reality, the battle belongs to the Lord. We can stand when we are armored with his truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the Spirit. In addition, as Paul points out, our primary weapon in this struggle is prayer. As a soldier needs to stay in constant communication with headquarters, so do we need to stay in constant communication with God.
There is one addition I think that needs to be made to this armor. What Paul describes is the covering a soldier puts on or the things he carries, such as a belt, a breastplate, shoes, helmet, shield and sword. Other than the shoes (I don't think wore socks!), everything else would go on top of the clothes the soldier was wearing. I think a person is best outfitted for battle when they are clothed with humility.
In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul extols the virtue of humility. In chapter 2 he writes, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves (vs. 3)." He goes on to hold up Jesus as the perfect example of a warrior for God clothed with humility and that our attitude should be the same as his.
As a berry picker I know the importance of preparing myself for the task at hand, of dressing to protect myself from what I might run into. The same is true for anyone who wants to serve God in this life. We too have to make preparations, to clothe ourselves in humility and the armor of God, if we are to be successful in doing what we are called to do.
Up next: Preparation Part 2
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Introduction
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…Ecc. 3:1, NIV
It’s berry picking season, the time of the year when intrepid berry pickers brave the hot sun, wet grass, thorn bushes, bugs and everything else nature can throw at them to pick the berries that taste so good when winter’s chill sets in.
Here in Western Pennsylvania, the season lasts from mid-June to early-August. In sequence I pick strawberries then blueberries then raspberries and then blackberries. Sometimes the berries can overlap, especially the raspberries and blackberries. I’m no expert, but my observations tell me the seasons can be good or bad depending a great deal on the weather, how much rain we get and hot the days are. I sometimes find berries in abundance and sometimes they can be scarce.
I’ve also noticed of late the dwindling habitat for wild berries. I happen to live in an area blessed by plenty of fields and forest land, but that blessing cannot be taken for granted. Natural gas drilling, coal digging and housing developments are reducing the amount of land available for berry pickers.
Despite all of this I enjoy leaving my home as the sun is rising and heading to the woods and fields for berries. The stillness of nature gives me an opportunity to clear my head and think about things more deeply. I’ve noted over the years there is a lot of wisdom that can be gleaned from such quiet moments of reflection, a lot of lessons to be learned. When combined with scriptures they can illustrate key life-lessons that can be nurtured and practiced.
The blackberry bush provides the greatest challenge. It can be easy to reach from a trail or buried deep in thorns and weeds. It can appear to be sparse at first glance but further inspection reveals berries hidden beneath its leaves, laying low to the ground or wrapped in tree branches above.
What follows is a series of meditations I’ve had over the years while picking blackberries. They’ve helped me solidify my thinking about life itself and how it is faced with a Christian world view. Some of the insights have surprised me; others heave reaffirmed what I always thought to be true. They key is to approach this intentional solitude with an open mind and an open heart.
As you join me on this path to discovery keep in mind these are very personal thoughts and reflections. I do not by any means wish to sway you or convince you of anything, only to let you in on the thought process and maybe help you to look at things in a different way. Indeed, as the seasons change so do the lessons and meanings we glean from them. I am not the same man I was twenty, ten or even five years ago. As one writer put it, the God accepts us as we are but he will not leave us that way.
So this is, in reality, my thoughts as I work out my faith “with fear and trembling.” Berry picking has become a vehicle to help me do that working out. I am humbled by the thought that my struggle may help others in their struggles. It’s the type of joy a berry picker gets when a loved one bites into a piece of toast covered with blackberry jam on a cold winter day and smiles.
Up next: The Preparation.
It’s berry picking season, the time of the year when intrepid berry pickers brave the hot sun, wet grass, thorn bushes, bugs and everything else nature can throw at them to pick the berries that taste so good when winter’s chill sets in.
Here in Western Pennsylvania, the season lasts from mid-June to early-August. In sequence I pick strawberries then blueberries then raspberries and then blackberries. Sometimes the berries can overlap, especially the raspberries and blackberries. I’m no expert, but my observations tell me the seasons can be good or bad depending a great deal on the weather, how much rain we get and hot the days are. I sometimes find berries in abundance and sometimes they can be scarce.
I’ve also noticed of late the dwindling habitat for wild berries. I happen to live in an area blessed by plenty of fields and forest land, but that blessing cannot be taken for granted. Natural gas drilling, coal digging and housing developments are reducing the amount of land available for berry pickers.
Despite all of this I enjoy leaving my home as the sun is rising and heading to the woods and fields for berries. The stillness of nature gives me an opportunity to clear my head and think about things more deeply. I’ve noted over the years there is a lot of wisdom that can be gleaned from such quiet moments of reflection, a lot of lessons to be learned. When combined with scriptures they can illustrate key life-lessons that can be nurtured and practiced.
The blackberry bush provides the greatest challenge. It can be easy to reach from a trail or buried deep in thorns and weeds. It can appear to be sparse at first glance but further inspection reveals berries hidden beneath its leaves, laying low to the ground or wrapped in tree branches above.
What follows is a series of meditations I’ve had over the years while picking blackberries. They’ve helped me solidify my thinking about life itself and how it is faced with a Christian world view. Some of the insights have surprised me; others heave reaffirmed what I always thought to be true. They key is to approach this intentional solitude with an open mind and an open heart.
As you join me on this path to discovery keep in mind these are very personal thoughts and reflections. I do not by any means wish to sway you or convince you of anything, only to let you in on the thought process and maybe help you to look at things in a different way. Indeed, as the seasons change so do the lessons and meanings we glean from them. I am not the same man I was twenty, ten or even five years ago. As one writer put it, the God accepts us as we are but he will not leave us that way.
So this is, in reality, my thoughts as I work out my faith “with fear and trembling.” Berry picking has become a vehicle to help me do that working out. I am humbled by the thought that my struggle may help others in their struggles. It’s the type of joy a berry picker gets when a loved one bites into a piece of toast covered with blackberry jam on a cold winter day and smiles.
Up next: The Preparation.
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