Luke 9:57
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
When the road meets gravel that is when I know I am almost home....
It was a long 12 hour shift. I could have counted the number of times the phone rang at the switchboard on my two hands. Paperwork was scarce and I found myself reading yet another manual on medical terminology. These are the times that numb my mind. I wait anxiously for the clock to near 8:30 p.m. as I tidy up the office, and dust the desk for the third time. Finally the old grandfather clock in the front entrance area strikes the close of my shift. Even though my coworkers had complained of the stifling, humid, dense heat the evening felt just right to me. It was fresh air. It was the lingering of the sun on the horizon after 12 hours under florescent lighting that had burned at my pupils all day.
As I walked to my car across the parking lot a small rabbit darted over the sidewalk in front of me as if to say "See! You are free to run and enjoy like me!" As I neared my car the black stray cat that frequents the area meowed his raspy hello. I opened my tote where my leftover lunch and supper containers were, and found him a few bits of chicken from the salad I had consumed earlier. Tentatively he made his way over to where I threw the tasty morsel; he ate the treats then ran into the bushes around the large brick apartment buildings.
Ahhh...the car looked almost as inviting as my own living room chair. I knew it would carry me home where I could finally melt into relaxation. The engine blessed me with a perfect hum as I proceeded out of the small town of Prairie du Chien. As it is after every shift my mind slowly wanders to the day I just put in. My thoughts wrap around the skills I wish to use, and how thankful I am to even have a job. My mind journeys into the many hours of schooling I took and the new classes I have to get homework done for. Then I chide myself for falling into those thoughts... for around me is so much to see and take in.
It was a long 12 hour shift. I could have counted the number of times the phone rang at the switchboard on my two hands. Paperwork was scarce and I found myself reading yet another manual on medical terminology. These are the times that numb my mind. I wait anxiously for the clock to near 8:30 p.m. as I tidy up the office, and dust the desk for the third time. Finally the old grandfather clock in the front entrance area strikes the close of my shift. Even though my coworkers had complained of the stifling, humid, dense heat the evening felt just right to me. It was fresh air. It was the lingering of the sun on the horizon after 12 hours under florescent lighting that had burned at my pupils all day.
As I walked to my car across the parking lot a small rabbit darted over the sidewalk in front of me as if to say "See! You are free to run and enjoy like me!" As I neared my car the black stray cat that frequents the area meowed his raspy hello. I opened my tote where my leftover lunch and supper containers were, and found him a few bits of chicken from the salad I had consumed earlier. Tentatively he made his way over to where I threw the tasty morsel; he ate the treats then ran into the bushes around the large brick apartment buildings.
Ahhh...the car looked almost as inviting as my own living room chair. I knew it would carry me home where I could finally melt into relaxation. The engine blessed me with a perfect hum as I proceeded out of the small town of Prairie du Chien. As it is after every shift my mind slowly wanders to the day I just put in. My thoughts wrap around the skills I wish to use, and how thankful I am to even have a job. My mind journeys into the many hours of schooling I took and the new classes I have to get homework done for. Then I chide myself for falling into those thoughts... for around me is so much to see and take in.
Traffic was surprisingly at a minimum as I took my time to cross the Wisconsin River. The sunset was absolutely amazing! The driftless hills seemed to rise up and slowly swallow the sun. "Breathe this in Dawn" I told myself.
The country roads twisted and turned as I wove my way home. Fireflies twinkled along the way in every direction as if God Himself were lighting my runway to home.
A deer and her young one flashed across the road in front of me; I was thankful she chose to cross way before my car reached that part of the drive.
Off went the air conditioner and the windows flew open so I could take in the scent of the many wildflowers that sprinkled the ditches along the road.
The country roads twisted and turned as I wove my way home. Fireflies twinkled along the way in every direction as if God Himself were lighting my runway to home.
A deer and her young one flashed across the road in front of me; I was thankful she chose to cross way before my car reached that part of the drive.
Off went the air conditioner and the windows flew open so I could take in the scent of the many wildflowers that sprinkled the ditches along the road.
Finally I turned on the road that I live on. You see though, it is not just any road. It starts out as a nice blacktop road with a few farmhouses spattered here and there. But eventually the road meets the sand and gravel. This is when I know I am almost home.
My thoughts again start turning as I think of all the upturned stones poking into the soft fiber of my Good Year tires. Just like the pains of life poking at me when I least expect it. Isn't that analogy so true? We travel so smoothly, things run along so nicely then BAM! ....we hit the gravel. Our flesh tears and burns with the gravel piercing our outward person. Inside the grit and sand rubs away our stamina; like salt in a wound we cry from the pain.
My thoughts carry to the years of pain I have experienced like gravel being tossed to and fro by the wheels of my car...then I stop.
I literally stop the car.
ENOUGH! I tell myself. Enough focusing on the negative stones...let's focus on the road. We are all on it aren't we? Some of us appear to have roads of blacktop, others a mixture of stone and blacktop, then there are even some that have nothing but sand and stone.
My thoughts again start turning as I think of all the upturned stones poking into the soft fiber of my Good Year tires. Just like the pains of life poking at me when I least expect it. Isn't that analogy so true? We travel so smoothly, things run along so nicely then BAM! ....we hit the gravel. Our flesh tears and burns with the gravel piercing our outward person. Inside the grit and sand rubs away our stamina; like salt in a wound we cry from the pain.
My thoughts carry to the years of pain I have experienced like gravel being tossed to and fro by the wheels of my car...then I stop.
I literally stop the car.
ENOUGH! I tell myself. Enough focusing on the negative stones...let's focus on the road. We are all on it aren't we? Some of us appear to have roads of blacktop, others a mixture of stone and blacktop, then there are even some that have nothing but sand and stone.
With the car running at the base of my drive I got out. My ears needed cleansing. I shut off the key to the ignition and immediately recognized the comical sound of the Whippoorwill. Now readers you may ask why I find the sound comical when listening to the Whippoorwill...this is why. As a child we would often travel up to our cottage. Many days were spent playing on my homemade swing and pretending to be cowboys and Indians in the tall trees of Wausaukee, WI. Evenings were sometimes spent around the campfire my dad had created near the back of the property. Whenever we would hear the sound of the Whippoorwill, my dad would ruffle my hair and remind me "that old bird has to jump up and down on a branch to make that sound. Aren't you glad you don't have to jump up and down to talk?" As soon as dad would say something about the bird and its song, my mind pictured this cartoon painted bird with big eyes jumping up and down, to and fro whipping out his Whippoorwill song. It always made me smile.
Now I stood on a gravel road swatting away the mosquitos as they attempted an evening meal upon my bare arms and legs and smiled again listening to the "whippoorwill" song of this unique bird.
The "mew" of a cat bird followed with a black capped chickadee off in the distance chiming in. I closed my eyes and took in the sounds, and I breathed in the air deeply.
"Whoosh...Whoosh...Whoosh..." sounded just above my head and my eyes snapped open. So close I could feel the flitted air as my hair rustled upon the top of my head. An owl, large, ominous, beautiful, soared just above me and off into the corn field behind my mailbox. I meandered over to the side of the drive to get a better look and picked at a few plump mulberries . I smiled again as I observed my peach skin turning purple with the stain of the berries I had just devoured. The sound of a pack of coyotes howling soon started a chain of clamor as one pack chimed in to greet the other pack. Ants tickled my toes as they crossed my feet scurrying to their anthill nest for the night. I keep a canister in my living room of monarch eggs, so I gathered a bit more milkweed for my hungry caterpillars.
Slowly I made the drive up the hill which is exactly one half mile long. The night sky has now darkened the world around me as I drive up to the farmhouse.
Now I stood on a gravel road swatting away the mosquitos as they attempted an evening meal upon my bare arms and legs and smiled again listening to the "whippoorwill" song of this unique bird.
The "mew" of a cat bird followed with a black capped chickadee off in the distance chiming in. I closed my eyes and took in the sounds, and I breathed in the air deeply.
"Whoosh...Whoosh...Whoosh..." sounded just above my head and my eyes snapped open. So close I could feel the flitted air as my hair rustled upon the top of my head. An owl, large, ominous, beautiful, soared just above me and off into the corn field behind my mailbox. I meandered over to the side of the drive to get a better look and picked at a few plump mulberries . I smiled again as I observed my peach skin turning purple with the stain of the berries I had just devoured. The sound of a pack of coyotes howling soon started a chain of clamor as one pack chimed in to greet the other pack. Ants tickled my toes as they crossed my feet scurrying to their anthill nest for the night. I keep a canister in my living room of monarch eggs, so I gathered a bit more milkweed for my hungry caterpillars.
Slowly I made the drive up the hill which is exactly one half mile long. The night sky has now darkened the world around me as I drive up to the farmhouse.
On the driver side of my car I sling my arm out the window to slap the tall corn in the field planted next to the drive. Like a little kid I swoosh my arm up and down feeling the resistance of the wind against my skin.
Finally the white four-square farm house I am blessed to live in speckles the horizon. I slow my car down to park just in front of it where the lilac trees hold hands above the walk.
In the window with sleepy eyes waits my Calico Cat named Daisy. She waits for me every night in the window .
A few candles are burning casting a warm glow and throwing off a cinnamon apple scent.
A warm cup of white tea waits to tease my senses and relax me to sleep as I close out my day.
Mr. James has his slippered feet up in the recliner; he is anxious to hear about my long 12 hour shift, and the deaf old dog Chester wags her tail in happiness as she coaxes her wet nose into my hand for rubbing.
Finally the white four-square farm house I am blessed to live in speckles the horizon. I slow my car down to park just in front of it where the lilac trees hold hands above the walk.
In the window with sleepy eyes waits my Calico Cat named Daisy. She waits for me every night in the window .
A few candles are burning casting a warm glow and throwing off a cinnamon apple scent.
A warm cup of white tea waits to tease my senses and relax me to sleep as I close out my day.
Mr. James has his slippered feet up in the recliner; he is anxious to hear about my long 12 hour shift, and the deaf old dog Chester wags her tail in happiness as she coaxes her wet nose into my hand for rubbing.
This is my drive home from work just about every night.
Sometimes in life we have to run through a little stone and gravel in order to get to the smooth paths of joy.
Do not despair for the road meets in many places and offers many experiences.
Just stop.
Stop once in awhile and learn from where the road meets the gravel...
Sometimes in life we have to run through a little stone and gravel in order to get to the smooth paths of joy.
Do not despair for the road meets in many places and offers many experiences.
Just stop.
Stop once in awhile and learn from where the road meets the gravel...
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