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All is quiet on the farm this morning. Even the rooster has taken a break. A chill has descended over the landscape as random leaves meander slowly to the ground. A reflective tone has emerged today as I ponder the blessings that have been wrought over the years. Pain and sorrow have been occasional visitors, but they have not overstayed their welcome as thankfulness and gratitude have swiftly filled their void. It seems like yesterday that I was wondering what life opportunities might unfold as I left this farm for college and adventures beyond. A whole new world began to emerge as I embraced possibilities along the path. The richness of people and places has been the source of great joy in the treasure chest of memories. As my family has grown, so has my bounty of gratitude been multiplied beyond simple measure. Challenges have more often than not been addressed as opportunities to discover and uncover the vastness of God’s creation. Even the challenges of disease are presenting discoveries new to me and bringing me closer to the beauty of a full spectrum of emotions that are always collected gently in my jar of thankfulness. The richness of being a human filled with the grace of God sustains this pilgrim’s journey. Psalm 23 has come to life and I am thankful to be tasting it!
Overcast skies and a piercing chill greet the morning as the first cloak of autumn is being fitted over the landscape. The initial tease of a cooling night and day was a welcomed reprieve from the sweltering summer sun that both gave and soaked up life in the square foot garden. Memories of childhood now return as we recall the passing of long and warm days that offered greater freedom to roam or discover the myriad of places and objects with which to play. Fall meant less light in which to discover nature’s bounty and the donning of layers of restrictive clothing to maintain body heat. Change is sometimes a welcomed visitor and at other times an intrusive invader robbing one of the familiar routine to which one has grown accustomed. The affliction with which we live reminds us of both elements of change. The unwelcome invader of symptoms that challenge often leaves as abruptly as he arrived giving rise to the welcomed freedom from pain and discomfort. Living in a haven of gratitude has proven to be the source of solace that sustains through the winds of change.
The moon glow was bright as Gracie the Golden raced to her early morning relief. The coolness of the air marked the change for the coming new season. Grass glistened with the presence of dew reflecting the light of the moon. Dawn had not yet broken, signaling yet another validation of seasonal passing from summer to fall. Suddenly hissing and snorting sounds arose from the direction of the gazebo. Gracie was frozen in her tracks as she attuned her head and ears in the direction of the sound. Small branches were broken as the owner of the hiss took flight into the safety of the nearby ground cover. More hissing and snorting followed as yet another apparent deer leapt into the safety of the brush. The timid Gracie came bounding back to the house that gives her refuge. Safe within the walls of her abode, the Golden curled at her master’s feet to be reassured that all was well in her world. In the apparent joy at her refuge a short nap gave evidence to her gratitude for shelter from the strange onslaught. May gratitude be your solace as you venture into the new discovery that is today!
Morning sun illuminates the remaining evening fog as light through a frosted window. The swing in weather from hot and humid to cool and drier has left its mark. The season is changing and a few trees are already releasing their evidence. A full agenda waits as we reflect on the blessings of the days just passed. Time and fellowship with family and friends has marked the last few days as blessed. Flexibility and absence of pain have contributed to freedom of movement that has added to the pleasure of the moments shared with others. A hefty dose of gratitude sustains our desire to uncover the blessings that lie ahead today. With thankfulness as our fuel we rev the engine of faith as we run the race set before us.
A breeze from the north carries the mist through the old chestnut tree as it sways in response. The weather is signaling a change as the early pangs of the fall season begin to arrive. Autumn will soon arrive bringing a kaleidoscope of forest leaves that will signal farewell to summer days of early morning and late evening sun. This early change requires only minor adjustments in daily routine. Soon we will see the need for even more adjustments to accommodate the changing clime. Likewise, changes in daily routine are required as the insidious disease called Parkinson’s insinuates itself more deeply into life’s experience. The inclination to not challenge self to move frequently and often seems to be accentuated at the arrival of cool and rainy days. Intention followed by action, however, frees the inclination to embrace another experience. Gratitude for the ability to engage movement that opens opportunities both today and tomorrow is the springboard to agility. Thankfulness is the well from which the thirst for joy is quenched.
The landscape glistens in the glow of the morning sun. A refreshing rain from the evening past lingers as heavy dew on the grass covered meadow. Leaves from the black walnut trees are beginning their descent, giving notice that the fall season is on its way. Sebastian the cat saunters past with his proud morning catch in tow. As we take in the majesty of nature’s array, we can’t help but whisper prayers of thankfulness for the opportunity to participate in another day of possibility. Gratitude fills the heart as fuel for the journey. “This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” Psalm 118:24
Silence is broken by the rhythmic whirl of the ceiling fan as it helps to keep the air stirring in the old farm house. The pup, having delivered her gift to the grassy meadow, lies curled beneath the coffee table as she visits her morning nap. Here in the confines of my childhood dwelling with scores of lifelong relics denoting adventures and experiences building and growing family and relationship, I reflect upon the wonders and joys that have filled our lives. Feelings of grief have invaded recently prompting tearful and emotional moments that seem to come out of the blue. Clinically, depletion of dopamine in the brain can prompt and or exacerbate what would otherwise be normal responses to life changes. Past reactions would have been to “suck it up” and move on to just “get over it” and “chalk it up” as a part of life. A conscious decision to “let it happen” has been so very freeing. The recent TV news report of children from Syria now working as field hands in Lebanon ignited a flood gate of tearful emotions. A sort of purge springs forth in response to injustice, to loss, or to tragedy. A similar experience was had after the initial diagnosis of PD some years ago. The stages of grief have been real and the emotional healing after these stages has been real as well. Today, in the quiet of this moment, I reflect with gratitude and joy upon the experiences and relationships that this explorer calls life. Thankfulness is the cup from which this wanderer quenches his thirst. The cup over flows today!
Danville is a city in the southern Piedmont region of Virginia that has a rich and illustrious history. Embracing both banks of the Dan River as it meanders into the state of North Carolina, Danville was once a thriving economic hub for both the textile and tobacco industries. Celebrating its heritage as the “last capitol of the Confederacy,” and the birthplace of Lady Nancy Aster, this now struggling economic entity is slowly making its way back with an embrace of the twenty first century. An engaging Science Center is nestled near the century old train station and guards the entrance to the Carrington Pavilion for outdoor performances. The Center satiates curious minds from miles around. Saturday mornings from spring till fall the farmers market is bustling with local growers offering meat, eggs, and produce as the farmers seek to share not only their goods but also their friendly smiles and welcome. The “River District” is slowly becoming a vital new part of the city’s identity. Condominiums and apartments are emerging out of the old warehouses along the riverfront and restaurants offering tasty southern and eclectic cuisine invite the hungry resident and visitor to a satiating meal. Main Street, once the shopping hub of the downtown area is redefining itself as well into a new genre of unique shops and offerings. Nestled along the riverbank near the location of the old grist mill and the site of the wreck of the old 97 is a beautiful new state of the art YMCA. With offerings for those who are infants to others who are chronologically challenged, this new center expresses its function to match its beauty. The gymnasium serves to gratify not only the desire for a vigorous workout, but also offers up a magnificent view of the river flowing beneath the panorama of the city beyond. Our tour through the new facility this week gave ample opportunity to reflect with gratitude upon the opportunities that await this thankful visitor.
When they heard the chain slip past the clip on the gate to the barnyard, they all came rushing my way. The four goats, two Great Pyrenees and the flock of chickens all gathered around to greet me as I entered their domain. Agnes, the 90 pound Pyrenees pup grabbed my leg in a firm leg lock to claim me for herself. Roxy, the mature six year old simply offered her head up for a loving rub and a hearty hello. The four Nigerian dwarfs, Paul, Olivia, Peggy Sue, and Snow White all nuzzled their way between the canines to get their respective pats and rubs. The hens and Cock-a-doodle the rooster were content just to be observing from a nearby vantage. The purpose of my visit was to collect the eggs that the hens had deposited so neatly in their nests that morning. One old girl perched peacefully on the platform as I searched the other nests for their offerings. With six eggs collected and placed in the towel lined bucket I went to search one more area of the stable. Within seconds, Agnes stuck her nose in the bucket and was about to abscond with one of the fresh orbs. She had been the mysterious culprit previously in “the case of missing eggs.” A quick “NO” and an elevation of the container was enough to prompt a loss of interest by the pup who rushed to see what her senior mentor was barking at on the other side of the stable. Another egg in hand, I made my way back to the gate and the exit from the pasture. As I looked back, each of the animals that were so eager to greet and be greeted were busy with their respective meanderings about the stable. Back pain and stiffness in the right leg had been impediments to the full pleasure of engagement with the animals, but not a barrier to the joy of the opportunity to be in their presence. A pang of gratitude in a meadow of thankfulness generates a joyful heart.
A slight chill greets the morning sun as the first day of cooler weather ascends from the north. All seems calm as the dew covered yard and meadow glisten in the glow of the new day. Movement today is not labored or painful. It would be easy to give the weather the glory for having brought on a more comfortable clime in which this body reacts with less neuromuscular strain and stress. However, there were days in the height of the summer heat where movement and the pain therewith had their respective ease. In the spirit of a good expansive memory, there were days also in the height of winter when symptoms of this seemingly omnipresent PD were nearly absent. Having no knowledge that there is weather or other temporal cause and effect, this life traveler embraces a bounty of thankfulness for this time of relief and wraps a gift of gratitude in prayers today. These moments of freedom are reminders of the grace we experience from a loving God who bestows upon us what we have not earned and mercifully defends us in the presence of what we truly do deserve.