Balance

There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. 

Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word 'happy' 

would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.

- Carl Jung

Simple Texture Tuesday

Just getting back into town after our trip...but wanted to link up quickly with Kim's Texture Tuesday...

I made this still with the eggs the farm owners gave us from their free-range chickens as a complimentary gift.  How special was this?  But it is good to be home.  Texture used is Kim's texture petra.

Lessons from Lambs - A Friday Finds

Maybe we came to West Virginia a week too early...or maybe Spring is a week late...(the high mountains are still pretty dormant).

But the timing for finding lambs could not have been more perfect!!!

We came across a flock of about 200 ewes...and the owner/caretaker said they average 2 lambs each.

Then things began to get very active...they were all very aware of their owner...and began crossing the road to follow him.  At first, mostly the ewes...

Then the lambs started to catch on...to follow their moms to the action.  But what was the action?

He brought out a tractor with a contraption that spread corn all over the grass. 

The ewes were ON it...like white on rice...and the lambs could not get a look for nothin'!

And even lambs who were in the thick of it even seemed clueless (or perhaps this one already had the pecking order down and knew it wasn't his turn)...so much to learn when you're a baby!

But I could not help but be fascinated at how these sheep knew who their shepherd was. It was obvious this was the owner and not just a hired hand.  They knew who cared for them.  And they never let him out of their sight, followed them without straying to the right or to the left, without doubt or fear.  Just having celebrated Easter, I thought about how Christ proclaimed to be the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep in John 10.  And the characteristics of His sheep are plain and simple:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)

Oh that I might follow my Shepherd as this gift of grace found in these sheep on the backroads today.

Rainy Day at the Horse Camp

A rainy day on the farm...

...only one horse out...

and how Arthur pleaded with Ed to go outside.  So we made the best of it inside.

Good day to get feet ready for flip flops...

Enjoyed some coffee...some reading...some journaling (notice Arthur's ball that also could not go outside).

And I worked on some stills...these flowers were here when we arrived.

Now...before you start to feel sorry for Arthur being housebound...

We took him out cruisin'...him in the driver's seat, no less.

But at the end of the day...the storms gave way to a beautiful evening.

Horse Campin'

Spring in West Virginia...and yes...it is late here, too!  But it is still Spring!

Edster, me and the four-footed boys are staying at a Horse Camp near Harman...

A two bedroom apartment with two porches (one outside french doors from the Master bedroom) with a hot tub...

overlooking the countryside...

 ...and it's attached to the horse barn.

And in the fridge...fresh farm eggs...two dozen!!!

Now Arthur is sooooooooooooo home here...made for the farm...herding the guinea hens.

And they don't like it...then he found the horses!

"Let me at 'em...let me at 'em!"

"Ruh-roh...now what?"

Sorry, Arthur...these two couldn't care less...

Actually they are very sweet...and the fun begins!

Ponderings on Easter

It is Easter Sunday.  I am not at home.  Edster and I and the four-footed boys are in West Virginia...my home.  I am purposefully using this time to sort through some things...clean house.

But Christ is here...and the morning...and Jesus is alive!  Sitting alone in the living area of this horse camp apartment, listening to music with Arthur laying at my feet...I was moved by a particular song that came on, written by John Lemonis and recorded by the Crist family.

The closer I get to the cross,

the more I clearly see

the holiness of You and

the sinfulness of me.

There's a beauty in the agony

that draws me to this place.

The closer I get to the cross

the more amazed I am by grace.

Here is the full version:



It's easier to rush through life in a blur, not stopping to pause or contemplate...but it is an empty life.  Socrates even knew that, "The unexamined life is not worth living."

This Easter, during this vacation, I'm craving the Holy Spirit to search me to bring back the joy again that overflows in all I say and do.  That means, getting closer to the cross.

And there all becomes clear.

Imperfect

I have been through a tremendous dry spell inspiration-wise...although I have found myself digging into some courses since the first of the year.

Brene' Brown's Gifts of Imperfection part two class has been one of them...and she always gets me to thinking.

Now in West Virginia for 10 days (stories to come)...I'm able to recharge and experience renewal doing what we introverts do best...

I've been thinking about imperfection.  And during this holy week, how much my flawed, sinful self cost Christ.  Imperfect!  Watching Son of God last night, I was moved when Jesus had called Matthew (a tax collector) to follow Him. Even some of the disciples prior to Jesus' encounter, expressed their disdain.

When I researched the status of tax collectors in Jesus' time, Bible History dot com makes it perfectly clear the reason for disdain.

The Jews detested these tax collectors not only on account of their abusive and tyrannical attitude, but because the very taxes that they were forced to collect by the Roman government were a badge of servitude and a constant reminder that God had forsaken His people. The tax collectors were always classed by the people with the harlots, usurers, gamblers, thieves, and dishonest herdsmen, who lived promiscuous, lawless lives. Some of the common terms for the tax collectors were "licensed robbers" and "beasts in human shape." 

And yet Matthew displayed one of the most radically changed lives in response to an invitation from Jesus.  He did not hesitate. He did not look back.  He left a life of wealth and security for a life of poverty and uncertainty.  He abandoned the pleasures of this world for the promise of eternal life.

So what started to be a post about a still life has turned into a celebration of God's grace as well as a reminder for me, a prick of conviction, to be merciful of the imperfection I experience each day ~ from myself and others.

All is grace.  Happy Easter.  (also a late link up with Textured Tuesday...)