A “May-cember” reminder
The phrase “May-cember” has been coming up in recent years, an acknowledgement that for many people, the schedule of events in May is just as harried as those in the December holiday season. There are comings and goings from graduation parties to weddings, to celebrating the birth of children, and parents preparing for summer break with children out of school. It’s a busy time. I wrote this originally in June of 2019, ,but it still applies.
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As I was driving along the Parkway on Sunday Morning, just past Mabry Mill, I saw a majestic doe crossing the road with her tiny baby, who still had its precious spots displayed quite vividly. I slowed almost to a stop so that I could get a good look at this tiny creature before she leapt into the woods with her Mama. Isn’t it amazing how our Creator sees to every hair on our heads? This precious deer was following the lead of its protective mother, and after just a fleeting moment of curiosity, she made her way into the woods, well camouflaged with her spots in the dappled sun rays shining down.
I’m a lot more attentive to nature than I once was. I delight in feeling the warmth of sun on my skin. I look forward to chances to witness the pastel sunrise or the blazing sunset. While I cannot grow flowers to save my life, I love to see beautiful flowers in bloom, especially wildflowers! It delights me to drive into the mountains and see the variations of vegetation and color. I am fascinated by the shadows of clouds on the mountain range. There is something sacred about seeing the Blue Ridge stretch out for miles and miles. There is peace in the rolling hills of the Roanoke Valley with the ancient mountains standing like sentries in the distance.
I wonder if in the hustle for our worthiness, the constant time crunch, the rush of hither and yon…we fail to witness the miracles of this precious Creation in which we dwell. When was the last time you attempted to find Orion’s Belt in the night sky or get lost counting the stars? When was the last time you sat on a porch swing with a glass of sweet tea in your hand without a phone or laptop in front of you? Have you played catch and release with fireflies? Have you heard the thrum of a bullfrog on a summer evening? Would you choose to drive on a country road instead of a highway to reach your destination? Would you stop and help a turtle cross the road?
Creation runs on patience you know? It takes eons for evolution to occur. It takes centuries for massive trees to take root and grow tall. Nature cannot force the rain to cool a drought nor coax the sun’s rays to dry up a flood. It is all by God’s design. For us, just as much as the rest of creation, we must rest in the promise of God’s plan, God’s purpose, God’s grace. So perhaps we should take a cue from all that is around us and slow down. And perhaps in doing so we would appreciate what we have a bit more. Perhaps we would see it as a treasure to protect rather than a commodity to extort.