His Goodness Awaits

It was only the second day of a three week trip.  We hadn't gone anywhere; the Drummer had.  He was out of town for work, but would return briefly each weekend.  We, the children and I, were still at home trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy.  However, Tuesday was wild.  With gymnastics class, piano lessons, and football practice taking us out of the house three separate times, the day was already chaotic. 

Every Tuesday, we travel the same way three times to one particular intersection.  From this one intersection, we must choose our travel direction.  Turning to the left leads us to football, straight ahead piano lessons, and to the right gymnastics.  Having been awake most of the night with our youngest, I was tired.  And, it was here, at the pivotal intersection, on this hectic Tuesday, that I literally forgot which activity we were headed to.

Approaching the intersection, I almost panicked, but a quick glance to our clock, and a run through of our schedule reminded me it was time for piano lessons.  We traveled straight through the intersection.

After dropping off our oldest daughter, the children and I decided to check out a new to us nearby park.  A creepy single gravel lane lie beyond the unmanned entrance gate.  We drove on as I thought how this scene resembled the perfect setting for a horror or thriller film.  It was complete with a small awkward shaped gravel parking lot and a large rusty van parked aside several run down buildings.

Why did I think this was a good idea?  Stealing my nerves, knowing it was my tiredness combined with the chaotic day aiding my imagination, I parked.  And, we got out.

We walked down to the creek.  Water glistened over the rocks, tumbling mini waterfalls gurgled, and the children rushed to the water's edge.  It was beautiful. 

Making my way down the path to join them, I proceeded with caution.  The flip flops I had thrown on last minute were proving to be quite inadequate.  I hadn't expected to be hiking in mud and muck alongside a creek.  And, I certainly hadn't expected to see such beauty.  Beauty revealing the goodness of God.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made… Romans 1:20

Two days later, we returned to the very same spot.  The entrance lane looked peaceful and the buildings rustic.  No more did I think it was the perfect setting for a horror or thriller film.  What changed?  Nothing, except knowing the beauty, the goodness, that lie ahead, waiting for us.

And isn't it the same with life?  Days and situations can be chaotic, creepy, and always changing.  However, beyond these momentary situations, after this temporal life, lies the eternal beauty and goodness of God.
~ Dorie

...continuing my gratitude listing...

771.  unexpected beauty and goodness

772.  perceptions that change by knowing the realities

773.  time spent in the beauty and goodness of God's creation

774.  children skipping rocks and playing 'Pooh Sticks'

775.  two visits to a new to us park

776.  finding incredible elements of nature to observe and inspect

777.  knowing what lies beyond this temporal life

...and so it continues...

This post is the twelfth in a series of posts pondering the fruit of the Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23