Category: Nature

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Challenge, Faith, Focus, Joy, Look, Nature, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Thanks

Let’s Regroup on the Topic of Awe

Do you recall my reference to the TIME magazine article on Brief Health, 5 ways to experience a little bit of awe every day? https://treasuresinplainsight.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=23481&action=edit I also wrote a couple times about Glimmers. I think I mentioned it 6 times? Here is the first Glimmer post https://treasuresinplainsight.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=21104&action=edit

Have you been seeking those experiences? The 5 ways in short are 1. what makes you say “whoa”? 2. Think small. 3. It can happen on a screen, (nature, short lab videos, etc.) 4. Awe is a reset button and 5. Pay attention to goodness.

Our deathly ill neighbors have large flower boxes on either side of the front walk. Last spring, a healthy friend of theirs planted annual seeds in the boxes for them. Ginny has since passed away. I went clumping over in my orthotic boot one day and could not get through to the front door as the sidewalk was overgrown with flowers blooming and falling all over the place. Zinnias that were over 3 feet tall, sunflowers falling down, and under it all a riot of marigolds. I am still trying to offer meals to Chuck. Last Sunday I asked Bob to go with me bearing clippers and a bucket so we could cut back the jungle to get to the porch. We disturbed a parade of butterflies and bees. As I cut one stem I noticed a lovely bug. At first I called it a leaf hopper. (See opening photo) On closer inspection it was more likely one of the zillion kinds of grasshoppers. And as I marveled at its intricate body I realized I was holding my breath for a moment in awe. There it is!

From the bedroom window this morning I could tell the weather has finally changed with lower humidity, MUCH LOWER, and cooler temperatures. Then my eye was captured by the sunlight through the elephant ears. No rabbits lately, but this was indeed a delight. Breathe in the awe with me.

We attended church this morning with me in sandals, left one had top one strap entirely unfastened, no boot! Though the day held delightful weather our outdoor service was changed to indoor due to other issues. After being spread out in chairs under the towering oak trees in the parking lot there was an enhanced sense of intimacy once indoors. I was amazed how many people greeted me with well wishes for thorough healing. The arms of Christ were certainly all about me. The doctor had said he still wanted me to wear the boot in public. I admit I was a bit nervous with all those other feet around me, especially the children. I look forward to serving at the altar again as soon as I can climb the stairs.

What a glorious day of awe and wonder. Instead of rainstorms right now there are small, pure white, puffy clouds floating slowly past in an incredibly blue sky. Life is truly a wonder. The TIME article suggests taking a 15-minute “awe walk.” Just look at the world with fresh eyes, pay attention to the details around you, and engage your senses.” Slow down for the details and let awe capture you!

Consider the work of God;
    who can make straight what he has made crooked?

In the day of prosperity, be joyful, and in the day of adversity, consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that mortals may not find out anything that comes after them. Ecclesiastes 7:13-15 NRSVUE

Posted on in Aging, Amazing Creations, Faith, Listen, Nature, Prayer, Spiritual discipline

Yesterday is Not Today

I am delighted we have a new beginning every morning. I remember nursing my son and wondering when the first hour of each day occurred. You have to understand that he nursed every three hours around the clock. I had been taught that we should give the Lord the first hour of every day. In my exhaustion, I told the Lord I would gladly give Him the first hour if he would just tell me when my day ended and began!

Each day is a different one, each day brings a miracle of its own. It’s just a matter of paying attention to this miracle.

PAULO COELHO

Pay attention to this miracle. This day. Right here.

So let me ask you something. When you pray do you listen for an answer? If you do not hear an answer right then, do you keep on listening? Do you persist in answering?

I have found that sometimes the answer comes over hours, sometimes over days, even weeks. We have been pondering what to do about our planned vacation to the beach in North Carolina scheduled for September with our now adult granddaughter. This was planned and reserved before the foot surgery occurred. So now the question is, “Will I be able to walk on the beach and look for seashells?” That is one of my favorite things to do.

So I have been praying for wisdom regarding the decision should we cancel the trip or not? The miracle? I feel as if I have been getting answers to the prayer. Many times the answer comes in the form of a question. That is so like my Jesus!

If I cannot or should not walk on the beach could I be content? Content to be at the ocean? Hear the ocean? Feel the thunder of the waves resounding in the air?

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore I will hope in him.”

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
    to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3: 22-25 ESV

New answers every morning. New strength each day. Perhaps a new ability to embrace any limitation I may have come mid-September. Help us decide, Lord.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Focus, Nature, Thanks, Traveling

What Do You See?

Bob took me for a drive around the Lake at East Fork State Park as we ate our soft serve ice cream cones from Legendairy in Bethel. This little pond is one of our favorite places to watch the seasons unfold.

First I saw duck weed, lots and lots of duckweed

Then lily pads

But wait are those pink blooms? pink water lilies?

Nope, those are wild mallows blooming on the edge of the pond

Here I have blown up the image for you

Earlier I mentioned our mallows in the garden. I have been delighted by all the wild mallows I am seeing this year. The lake edge is a perfect example!

We took one turn off and as we came out I spied a plant with a butterfly. By the time it registered from my brain to my mouth we had passed it. On our way back I asked Bob to turn in at that spot. Here is what we found.

There are at least 3 butterflies in this photo

I especially wanted to show him (below) the shape of the sepal and how it seemed an extension of the plant’s stem.

The center flower cupped by sepal

The plant is commonly known as a teasel. “The dried heads of the plant were once used in the textile industry to raise the nap on woolen cloth.” Wikipedia

The butterfly is a silver spotted skipper.

Great ice cream. Terrific, relaxing drive.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;
8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
9 Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;
10 Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl;
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
12 Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above the earth and heaven. Psalm 148: 7-13 NKJV

Posted on in Aging, Amazing Creations, Collection of Quotes, Faith, Focus, Illness and Health, Joy, Just do it, Look, Nature, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Thanks

A Little Bit of Awe

Bob reads Time magazine. I occasionally pick it up if there is an article that catches my attention. In the throes of this recovery from surgery we both caught a wicked cold. The headache and coughing are exhausting. When I moved his magazine this article caught my attention, “5 Ways to Experience a Little Bit of Awe Every Day. ”My first reaction was , “Not again!?”

I was finding it difficult to think about awe in the midst of the ripping sound of Velcro, hot ortho boot, inability to move about the house without forethought and planning, gripping abdominal pain from coughing so long and so hard. Now someone wants me to find awe?

When I finally stopped long enough to read the article I realized the exercise was exactly what I needed. Dacher Keltner a psychologist and author is quoted as describing awe as the feeling you get “when you encounter things that are vast and beyond your frame of reference,” shifting attention away from self and toward something larger.

You can read the article here. https://www.pressreader.com/australia/time-international/20260727/281754161083947

I read through the list of 5 ways and made myself look away from the coughing and the lingering limitation to my walking ability. I found indeed there could be a shift in my thinking. I knew this to be true, but have not experienced this noticeable shift in several months. The shift is very difficult when you feel unwell.

For example, we had some nasty storms pass through our area recently. One tornado came within a handful of miles from our house. We watched the neighbor’s trees twist and turn in the wind as never before and the elephant ears in our garden were being whipped into a frenzy. I wondered what would happen to the newly bloomed mallow flowers on the shrub next to the giant ears. Two days later we were both marveling at how the flowers seemed to be entwined and hugged by the elephant ears in our garden. In other words, the plants were still standing and prospering despite all the storm threw at them.

If you don’t feel good and are limited in your physical function one challenge you don’t want to encounter is the invasion of the tiny black ants. One treat I am allowed is a couple of ginger snaps or a few select low carb cookies with my morning coffee. I opened the can with the coconut cookies and it was literally crawling with ants. So many in fact that I just threw the cookies away. There was no way to pick off a few and save the cookies.

Bob helped me pull things out of the closet and vacuum up ants. I sprayed bug killer and shut the pantry door. If would take hours to wash things off and replace them in the pantry. By the time I was finished I was exhausted. At some point in the housekeeping event I remembered the verse about consider the ant you sluggard, while contemplating how do they even get inside this house? Look they are congregating around the edges of the dishwasher. How do I spray there?

6 Go to the ant, you lazybones;
    consider its ways and be wise.
7 Without having any chief
    or officer or ruler,
8 it prepares its food in summer
    and gathers its sustenance in harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, O lazybones?
    When will you rise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want, like an armed warrior. Proverbs 6:6-11 NRSVUE

We find those tiny critters on the dining room table. I will occasionally find one walking up my arm. I am getting to the point if I feel like something is crawling on me I check to be sure it is not an ant.

There is the reset button! This invasion did not have to be more fuel for frustration and despair! We may never win the battle with the ants, but we can hold a little bit of territory. There are likely ten thousand upon ten thousand ants living in our backyard alone. When Bob pulls up a solar light to change the battery he often encounters them going mad up his arm and all over the light. A moment ago he saw none. Then wham he is battling for his own skin.

This marvel is occurring in all the neighbors houses. Some even find the ants where this is no food about such as in an office. Yet the ants explore and send out sentries and food gatherers. Can we just for a moment be in awe of them?

This awe is one thing that makes it possible to turn away from the attention my ailing self demands and look to the Lord. This marvel, even for a moment, helps me move towards praise and pray again. It is no slight thing to find a way to focus on the Risen Christ when your body of flesh is clamoring so loudly. Here again is a big reason why I admire Amy Carmichael so much. Her writings delineate her turning away from the flesh and the world to God Almighty.

You might want to try it today, if even for a moment.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Look, Nature, Worship

Tree Swallows Amaze Me

This is a stunning video. Take the time. Sit back and watch these acrobats! Be blessed that we have such talented photographers with enormous gear to capture these marvels of God’s kingdom!

I like tree swallow and barn swallows. I just can’t get over them both.

Cornell Lab All About Birds says: Tree Swallows live on a diet of insects, though they occasionally capture other small animals and may eat plant foods during bad weather when prey is scarce. They feed from dawn to dusk in sheltered areas full of flying insects, usually foraging no more than 40 feet from the ground. Tree Swallows eat all kinds of flying insects: dragonflies, damselflies, flies, mayflies, caddisflies, true bugs, sawflies, bees, ants, wasps, beetles, stoneflies, butterflies, and moths, as well as spiders, mollusks, and roundworms. Their prey may be smaller than a grain of sand or up to two inches long. They chase prey in the air, with acrobatic twists and turns, and sometimes converge in large numbers in an insect swarm. During the breeding season, Tree Swallows eat high-calcium items like fish bones, crayfish exoskeletons, clamshells, and eggshells of gulls or loons.

26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? Matthew 6:26-27 NKJV

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Just do it, Nature, Praise, Prayer, Surrender, Trust

Second Chance! Take A Lesson

We saw this story on the news recently.

What amazes me is how the new parents were willing to feed transplanted chicks! I could imagine one eagle saying to the partner,“But honey, they multiplied over night!!”

If you listened to the 4 minute video Marcie Logsdon, veterinarian, mentions “if the baby is there and begging to be fed, the adults feed it.” Oh! if only humans could be so kind and giving! Perhaps since this is our national bird we could all take a lesson from the Bald Eagle parents.

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25: 35-40 ESV

Posted on in Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Music, Nature, Obedience, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender

Enough?

There are t-shirts and bumper stickers about declaring, “You are enough.” An essential message for those struggling with mental health.

In her devotional Amy Carmichael quoted part of the following hymn this morning.

July 7 "Translated from the old German of Ter Steegen have been in my heart:

Am I not enough, Mine own? enough,
Mine own, for thee?
********
All shalt thou find at last,
Only in Me.

Am I not enough, Mine own, I, forever
and alone, I, needing thee?

YouTube had this rendition


Yes, God is enough to get me through this. God can see you through your difficulties and challenges, too. I am determined to remember the message from the Lord through Ter Steegen that yes, God is enough!

I am weeks away from existing as a human Do-ing; I am more at peace if I rest for now in Be-ing. Christ is enough to help me get through this, but the neighbors and church family have certainly helped! Food Train threatened to become food flood. Flowers and flower bed helpers. Watermelon, soup, an entire meal just dropped at the house. People have come to help me with little chores and putting away my laundry, getting a load of wash started, getting things out of the dryer for me to fold.

Early this morning I saw a buck with two does walk through the neighbor’s yard. A baby bunny appeared out back. Then this afternoon I saw the buck again in a different area. He is a young buck, but a buck indeed. What a blessing! The Lord did not have to let me see that animal. It did cheer me up though! I cannot sit in my prayer chair. It is too low and right now too hard to get out of.

I am reminded there are people who will live the remainder of their lives in wheelchairs. Hopefully, this is just temporary for me. It certainly changes perspective on life. I was sitting in the kitchen one evening and Bob asked me what I was doing. I was thinking how easy it would be to just get up and walk to another room. And then remembered I may not. I want this surgery to be successful. I want the healing to go well. I am working hard to keep my glucose levels even and low. It is tempting though to give in to emotional eating. Not good thinking Molly Lin. As some used to call this, “Stinkin’ thinkin’!” That will get me no place good.

So please continue to lift us and others you know who are not up to their usual activities. We all need grace and all the help we can get. Prayer works. God can provide for us and through us. I will do this well, with God’s help.

Lord, we need Your touch!
Posted on in Amazing Creations, Book quotes, Faith, medical treatment, Music, Nature, Prayer, Surrender, Thanks, Worship

Goodness of the Lord

One thing I really missed during this first week of recovery is sitting in my prayer chair. Have not figured out how to get the knee roller so I can sit there. Then there is the challenge of rising from that chair. A low swivel rocker…

I read from the Amazing Grace devotional. She wrote, “Though a dream may have risen a little out of reach for now, they are still on the scale…{One side of your scale may be a little weightier.} This is as it should be right now, but it won’t be this way forever. Unless the scale crashes to the ground, you are in balance – no matter how uneven the sides. As long as you remember to seek his wisdom and walk in his truth, it isn’t going to crash.”

This morning sitting at the dining room table I heard a not familiar bird song. Cornell’s Merlin Bird ID told me it was an eastern towhee. They are lovely birds sporting three colors. I could not see it but definitely was blessed to hear it.

I miss watching for the eastern cottontail rabbits. And wouldn’t you know it I looked up and in the distance there was one, right in Sherry’s yard. At about the same turn the song below came into my mind. I hummed along as I watched the rabbit greet ANOTHER rabbit with arial jumps. Must be mating time again! I often watch the rabbits with binoculars, but was blessed to see them this morning without the aid of those, (besides they are in the bedroom, on the floor).

Been trying to add a YouTube link for the song I was hearing. I cannot get it to work! So if you go to YouTube maybe copy and paste this link

https://youtu.be/b4EsaIBMp9c?is=gYjxoOOi697NW8hb

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Right here with me at this table. My foot resting on the parked knee roller. Trust me, it does not like to hang down! As I start to finish this entry the rabbit has gone from the shadows to bright sunshine. It is as if the Lord is declaring He sees me as I seek to see him. “You shall seek me and find me when you seek for me with all of your heart.” (NIV paraphrase)

“When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart,” Jeremiah 29:13 NRSVUE

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Challenge, Family, Joy, Memories, Nature, Poetry, Praise, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender

Mother’s Day

This year to celebrate Mother’s Day my daughter decided we should visit the butterfly show at our local Krohn Conservatory. We had not attended for several years. It was a warm and humid day. Just what the butterfly’s love. The title was Monarchs, but I was disappointed that there were not more Monarch butterflies present. In fact, I saw none, even in the hatching cages. The children however never disappoint me at such a display. They are always in wonder and delighted when a butterfly lands on someone and they can see it up close! I just love when a child declares, “He likes me!”

closed
same subject opened

The above is the Morpho, largest in the display. The butterflies suffer damaged wings mostly from being caught in the covers of the circulating fans. They are still lovely and majestic though.

One subject, moving around for another sip and another. I believe this is a Julia. We grew these “Mexican Sunflowers” once at the edge of our compost pile. They were very tall and draw hundreds of butterflies!

A child pointed out this transparent winged specimen. How lovely!

It was a hard angle to capture this beauty. Called a Glasswing from Central America !

They loved feeding on the dishes of cut fruit.

It was fun to put another butterfly memory in the books. Thanks, Em!

How many butterflies can you spot this week around your home?

Butterfly Living © Molly Lin Dutina 1982 
Butterfly living, now that's for me!
Glory bound and incredibly free!
Made to be a joy to Thee!
Strengthen me for wings of liberty.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NRSVUE
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 NRSVUE
Posted on in Amazing Creations, Challenge, Faith, Just do it, Look, Memories, Nature, Obedience, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Trust, Worship, Writing Life, Yield

New Project

My new project entails gathering the object lessons the Lord has given me over the years to encourage me and keep me walking the road laid out before me. I will likely post of few of these during the coming months. The following is entitled “Called At the Beach To Write More.”

How does an object lesson usually come to you? Mine can jump up any time I call upon the Lord for guidance. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
    so I shall be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:3 NRSVUE

While walking the beach in Florida we were searching for shells. I came upon this one. It is called Sunray Venus Clam.

It reminds me of lined paper. (College ruled is my favorite).

Then I came upon this one.

Atlantic Pen Shell

That got me thinking about ink wells, and fountain pens. Oh my, this was a call to write more!

Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write the vision;
    make it plain on tablets,
    so that a runner may read it. Habakkuk 2:2 NRSVUE

Years ago a cousin older than me gave me the above verse to hold to. I was not certain she heard right. Time has shown she evidently heard exactly right for me!

The shells comprised another confirmation that I am to write and keep telling what God is doing in my life and can do in the lives of others. I keep these shells around to remind me, lest I ever doubt the call again. Or for the times I get just plain lazy about it. Lord, prod me with the shells and forgive me for being lazy, I pray.