A Bridge to New Heights
With the end of May, along with Memorial Day Weekend behind us, hay season has gotten underway for some of our local farmers. I may be a bit odd about some of my likings, but for some reason it does something to my soul to get up at daybreak, take my first sip of coffee and look to the east, to the welcome sun rising over a giant field full of hay bales neatly scattered on the horizon. It’s like a great partnership between God and man, working together to bring the fruit of the land to the livestock in the field.
We continue to enjoy cool mornings and sunny afternoons these last several days. My walk to the creek eventually turned into some jogging, at least as much as my body could tolerate. I will continue to increase my stamina the more I do it, Lord willing. I thank my God for the breath in my body and ability to make my legs work harder than I really want them to. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” I say to myself during those hard sprints and heavy breathing.
As I painstakingly jogged along, nearing my respite at the creek, I spotted a pair of what appeared to be wild yellow canaries flitting about along the top of the barbed wire fence. I suppose my body flailing and heavy panting must have interrupted their quiet morning. With every few steps I trod along the road, they would take flight and land a few fence sections further away, continually assessing the danger of me. I suppose they were finally able to return to their uninterrupted rest about the same time as I headed down the entrance to the creek.
The water was calm, lower than the past several days. The weather outlook for rain later in the week could possibly replenish the creek levels soon. We shall see.
The two rock bridges I had built from days earlier were firmly intact, protruding proudly above the surface of the passing water. Now that safe passage was in place it would allow for journeys to the distant shore, so long as the creek levels don’t get too high when the rain comes in the near future.
Crossing over the bridge, I made my way over the plentiful rocks and creek gravel, heaped up there over time by the hands of God. Happy to be across the creek with dry feet, I proceeded a bit further and walked up the steep incline, past the huge roots of a mighty oak and up to the overlook. Once there, I enjoyed the fresh new view of the bridge I’d built and crossed, our favorite tree and the panorama of it all.
In our daily walk of life, it is important to build around us the common places and activities that give us a sense of belonging and security, to know that things will be the same no matter what. We all need stability. But at the same time, we must seek opportunities to rise above commonplace, outside our routine, to build bridges across the waters and explore fresh places that spark the fire of our imagination.
“You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalm 16:11