Five Minute Friday: Quiet

In July, 2006 I went on a missions trip with a team from my church to Lima, Peru. 

I prepared financially.
I prepared my travel documents.
I prepared my heart for service.

What I wasn’t prepared for when I got there was the noise.

It was jarring and abrasive.

It. Was. Constant.

Horns blaring, brakes screeching, delivery trucks backing up, buses squealing…

Dogs barking on roof tops…

Eventually I got used to it and began to tune it out.

Shortly after I got home, my family went on a trip to Eastern Oregon.  At one point, we stopped on the side of the road and I got out and snapped this picture.

As I stood there, taking in this amazing scene of blue sky and golden wheat fields, I suddenly realized how quiet it was.  There wasn’t even a breeze that day.  I couldn’t hear the wheat rustling, bees or grasshoppers buzzing…just silence.

And in that quiet moment, I thought of the following verse…

“Be still, and know that I [am] God.”  (Psalm 46:10a, KJV)

Whether we find ourselves in the din of the city, or the quiet serenity of a wheat field, we need to remember to seek quiet time with the Lord.  He will meet you where you are, and you will be blessed.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  (Prov. 3:6, NASB)

         

Towering Trials

Last July, our family took a vacation to North and South Dakota.  We took a day trip over the border into Wyoming to hike around Devil’s Tower National Monument.  The circumference of the base is about a mile long.  The trail was relatively flat and we had bottles of water, so it seemed like it would be an easy hike.

It wasn’t.

At the beginning of the hike, I had energy and was enjoying the scenery.  After about a quarter of a mile, the heat began to get to me.  I was thankful for the water I had, and began to seek shady spots to rest in.  I heartily welcomed the occasional cool breeze.  As we moved around the tower, I took note of how the scenery changed as we viewed it from different angles.  By the time I reached the halfway point, I was no longer enjoying myself.  The experience had been reduced to trudging along the trail, placing one foot in front of the other.  I began to realize that I did not have enough water and began to ration it to try and make it last.  I ran out.  By the time we completed the circuit, I was very dehydrated.  My world was spinning and I was unable to walk a straight line.  I had to walk along side my son with my hand on his shoulder to help steady myself.

As I reflect on that day, it occurs to me that I tend to have a similar experience when I encounter trials.  I start out with energy, knowing that the Lord is with me.  As the heat intensifies though, my spirits begin to flag.  I trudge along, viewing the trial from every possible angle.  I feel weak and miserable.  While my Living Water can never run out and there is always an abundant supply available, I forget to drink.  I feel spiritually parched and stagger out of the other end, disoriented and disheartened.  I am thankful for those friends and family who come alongside, and support me in prayer.

Jesus is my strength and source of life.  Not only does He lead me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake, but He also guides and sustains me through the valleys.

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”  (Psalm 46:1, NASB)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NASB)

Barn Quilt Tour

On a recent trip through western Iowa, my family spent a leisurely morning driving on a self-guided Barn Quilt tour.  Anyone who owns a barn and wishes to participate can create a square wooden quilt pattern, and then place it on a side of a barn that is visible from the road.  Visitors are encouraged to drive past the barns, take pictures, and enjoy “piecing together” a lovely patchwork quilt as they meander through the Iowa countryside. 

The quilt square at our first stop was entitled “Windmill.” 

We were lucky enough to drive past this farm while the owner was outside working.  He explained that the reason why they chose to call it “Windmill” was because they were the last farm in the county to pump water by windmill.  He also explained the reason behind the colors.  Red represented the fact that they were a century farm and stood for generational blood.  Yellow represented the harvest, green represented the fields, and blue stood for the sky.  Knowing the story behind the design of the pattern really made the quilt square come alive.  I hoped that we would encounter more farm owners who could share about their pattern, but we didn’t see anyone else. 

The quality of the pictures is not always great because we did not feel free to go on the property, and had to take pictures from a great distance most of the time.  Here are some of my favorites:

Crown of Thorns

Liberty Star

Iowa Star

Psalm 23


I’m not much of a quilter, but I admire people who have the skill and passion to create them.  I love to watch how they carefully select colors, choose patterns, and piece everything together.  Quilting is not a “random” activity.  There may be free flowing topstitching involved, but from what I have observed, there is a lot of planning and careful attention to detail that goes into creating and constructing these beautiful blankets.

Based on my encounter with the first farmer, there is probably a wonderful story behind each quilt square that we found.  I began to think about what sort of colors and pattern I would choose if I were to create a quilt square.  I thought about Romans 12:2 which says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV)  The Lord wants us to live intentional lives that are patterned after Him.  Perhaps God views each of His precious children as a special and unique “square” in the blanket of His sovereign design.  When we live according to His commands and serve within the body of Christ, we come alongside others and are pieced together to create a picture of love that provides warmth and beauty to the world around us.