Monthly Archives: June 2010

I’m not one to enjoy the earth. 

My heritage has been a group of farmers.  My father and my father’s father both farmed within miles of where I live today.  Plows and harrows and seeders and combines were part of their vocabulary.

My father ventured from the farm in his 40’s.  The farm never ventured from him.  He loved to garden.  His chosen vocation, weather forecasting, was one way of staying close to creation.

But, I’m not one to enjoy the earth.

A few weeks ago I was confronted with a new (probably old, but new to me) reality.  A person who shuns nature may also be shunning a vital Christian truth.  This world is very much a reality that God created, and called good!!

So, I’ve been stretching, exercising once again with a new vigor the senses God has given.  Stretching to look out a window.  Stretching to consider what it would take to nurture a lawn.  Stretching to thank God for that which I touch each day, smell in the moments of waking, hear as the sun rises, taste as my meals are served and see as shadows emerge.

Our last 30 hours have been hectic.  A trip to Prince Albert and back.  A visit with our daughter, our niece and the family, and touching base with friends in the city where 11 years of our life took place.

All this to go to the provincial music festival.  Jill has been playing piano for a young lady, Vanessa Klassen.  She is a clarinetist superb – 16 years of age.  She competed in her class with 7 other provincial finalists.

She won!

Congratulations, Vanessa!

I have been seeing the day start around 4:00 in the morning.  Although the sun is not yet peeking over the horizon, the house is being filled with the first part of the light of day.

Today I did the calculation!  In the middle of winter the sun may arise at 9:00 in the morning.  That’s five hours difference.

Summer and sun help me to wake early and stay up late.  Right now, without light-darkening window curtains, I’m more likely to arise earlier in the morning.  In the middle of winter I’ll laze around in bed until 7:30 or 8:00.  In summer, I also figure bed time must not yet be on the horizon because the sun has not gone below the horizon.

I enjoy the rhythm of the seasons.  More time for sleep or more time to enjoy a little more play time – depending on the time of year.

I pity those who sit at the equator – must be dull and boring to see the sun – same time, same place, same – same – same!

Somehow in the last while I’ve come upon a number of new books that I’m reading.  They all have something to say and may be worth consideration.

Recommended by our intern who will be coming in the fall – An Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus.

Majesty in Motion: Creating an encouragement culture in all your relationships, by Stewart Brown – who has phoned the church more than once to encourage us to read this book.

The me I want to be:  becoming God’s best version of you by John Ortberg.

The Three Colors of Your Spirituality by Christian Schwarz.

The Naked Gospel by Andrew Farley.

I picked up most of these on www.amazon.ca. 

The new book I want to pick up is called – Nine Ways God Always Speaks:  offer only available in certain states, by Mark Herringshaw and Jennifer Schuchmann.

This last book appears to go along with some of my thoughts in my sermon series – How do you hear God speaking?  You can listen to the messages to date by clicking on our sermon link on our church website at www.kindersleyalliance.com.