The summer has arrived with all its glory. It’s a first summer for me in the Oklahoma Ozarks without many interruptions. What a joy to wake up in such a beautiful space. Yes, the news and the elections are all daunting, but the outdoors tells a different story. The Ozarks tell a story of resilience, of beauty in seasons and joy in the journeys. The people here know hard times, hard times for a farmer is a way of life. Joy isn’t as dependent upon circumstances in the country, but joy is found in trusting the God who created you has more than enough grace to sustain you.
My world is one of hope, of seeking ways to use the gifts entrusted to me for others. My laundry isn’t done, the house, actually two now, are a mess, but that has little to do with the momentum of releasing the need to know. To simply BE where we are in this moment.
Country drives are every where in my week. I’ve traded in airport runways and lines for baggage for waiting for the chickens to cross the road. It’s the best kind of change. My work hasn’t ended, in fact this season it seems it has increased, but every thing about this work has changed. We’re building the creative’s center at the farm, it’s a hot mess as we took custody of it, but it’s ours.
What works for you in changing times? What works for me is listening to James Taylor’s albums, taking evening walks when its not blaringly hot. What works for me is noticing, of intentional focus on what is lovely, what is beautiful, what is created with such intricacy that no human could have conceived it, much less made it fit in the ecosystems that sustain it and everything else.
What works for me is checking in with friends, having time away from the busy of the day and asking how they are and listening. Laughing at our never ending sink full of dishes and how there’s always time for something fun, never for laundry.
What works for me is recognizing this life is precious and it is the one I have. I’ve spent too many years working for work’s sake, pleasing for low self esteem’s sake, over doing for lack of feeling enough’s sake.
This season I’ve decided I’m exactly who I am, getting better as I go and that is enough.
I'd love to hear your sharings...