daily life as life goes on . . .

I’m  somewhat new at this flower and planter thing.

This summer one of my friends gave me a planter of petunias and some crawling plants (do you call them vines?).  For the summer they have hung from the front porch.  I faithfully water the pot and watched with amazement when part way through the summer a new species emerged.

Now I watching again in wonder. 

On the petunia stem a new type of pod has begun to emerge.  At first I thought I would just deadhead the pod.  But then I began to examine the pod further.

I call it a pod.  I’m not sure what else to call it.  A tiny beak appears to be situated where a flower should emerge.  I separated the beak on the first pod.  I thought small bugs or aphids were escaping.  The second pod appeared to be the same.  By the third pod a realization overcame me.

These were seeds.  I am naive as to when seeds begin to appear.  I thought maybe in later September.  Of course, harvesters are out in the fields around Kindersley combining peas and lentils and other crops.  Why not petunias seeding at this point in the season?

And so, I brought the seeds inside, placed them on a paper and taped them down (they were so small even a puff of wind could blow them away – and I’m not sure my camera could do them justice).  Just imagine tiny dots situated on a white expanse.  There sit my seeds.    A marvel of nature that from this seed comes such beauty!!

I’ve been watching Ramadan with a prayer full eye.  A devotional book has helped me focus those prayers for Muslims around the world.  We do a good thing, and for God’s glory, to pray!

From the devotional for today, I’m reminded that today is the “Night of Power” for Muslims.  Tonight Muslims have the opportunity to stay up in prayer all night.  Prayers offered during this night are believed to be “particularly well received.”  Muhammad was believed to have received his first revelation of the Qur’an during this night.

I wonder if we might adopt some of the fervor and passion of this night ourselves, as Christians.  Perhaps God is calling us to greater prayer – perhaps even a night of prayer.  For ourselves, for others, for a fervor in seeking God!   Perhaps our prayers should also include a prayer for supernatural revelation of Jesus in dreams and visions for Muslims around this world.

I was reading this morning about a tribe in the African desert.  They supposedly smuggle goods between two opposing countries.  When chased by authorities at night they turn off their headlights and drive unseen into the desert.

The description which I so liked – “A man from this tribe can tell his location by the smell of the sand.”

Now, I live in the Canadian grain belt.  Here we do not so much see sand as gumbo or loam or just plain dirt.  After a rain, you can smell the soil.  And seasoned farmers will also know the land on which they stand.

That knowledge of your location comes from familiarity with the land.  Too often we live nomadic lives, never putting our feet on the soil (or as the old saying goes, our roots into the ground).  Perhaps we would feel more grounded if we spent time in one place.  If we learned what made for a good relationship with those around us.  What caused us to deal with conflict and joy.

In that way we could find our location by the smell of the sand!

This week has been one of those opportunities to turn to God.  There are a lot  of “I don’t knows”.  Mostly as I have been with people and seen the lives we live.

Of no fault of our own, no sin of conscious thought, no desire for evil – and yet people live with cancer, find their bodies and minds are tiring, youth confront a world where opportunities look often like challenging mountains.

I turn to God.  Even this morning.  I turn, not with reluctance but certainly with a sense of unknowing.  And perhaps even expecting that my prayers will not have clear answers.  I pray in faith for healing and for knowledge and for wisdom.  My faith is weak, my experience often clouds my faith. 

On the mountain that stands in contrast to my faith, I see a path that starts up the mountain and I know the map says it reaches the other side.  I lose sight of the path in the low lying clouds, but for each one walking  the path I encourage them to believe that each step has a next step.  Trust the builder of the path and keep walking.

I saw my wife walk part of that path and now walks where I cannot see.  But by faith’s eyes, my vision includes a better day for her.  I wish I was on the other side of the mountain to watch her, but I’m trusting Jesus to do just that.

And here and now, with those who walk with me, I’m trusting Jesus to give you strength, wisdom and a measure of understanding.  God is with you!  God is for you!