Hearts in Service

One of the places that Dan and I went to this week was the Kinzua Train Bridge in Pennsylvania. It is a 301 feet high and was 2,053 feet long and was originally built in 1882 and then rebuilt with steel in 1900. It stood for 121 years until in 2003 a tornado came through and partially collapsed the massive structure. The remaining structure has been reinforced and is now a tourist site. It's impressive to walk out on the bridge and look out over the valley. We were able to walk down into the valley and among the wreckage and as we looked at the mangled steel beams it reminded me of a truth we often forget.  As humans we crave power and success and control. And yet, we really have none of those things. In an instant, all we strive for can be torn down and mangled. We put our trust in ourselves, in our own strength and resolve, and in what we can see. Yet, in the blink of an eye, we realize that we are weak, powerless, and out of control. When we see the awesome power in the wind, we...

Each Saturday I make my way to the local Farmer's Market in the middle of the small city we live in. It's been a great market to participate in. They are well organized and friendly, it's very well attended, I sell well there, and have been able to meet many nice people. The best part is getting to see different ones from church each week.  Participating in it though does take up a good chunk of time each week in preparation. We are on vacation this week, but I still need to work to get ready for Saturday. So after spending Monday and Tuesday out and hiking, yesterday was spent shopping and making jam. I was able to make Queen Anne's Lace jelly which is a light and delicate floral lemon-flavored jelly from the flowers of the Queen Anne's Lace plant. I also made mango, sweet cherry and blueberry is on the schedule for today. I found a very neat restaurant supply store and was able to pick up a 5 lb. tub of baking powder and a 2 lb. container of cream of tartar, as we...

Dan and I are on vacation this week even though we are staying at home. We are trying to pick places to go that don't cost much or are free. It's fairly easy since most places are still closed down. The one thing we love to do that doesn't cost anything is hiking. So yesterday we tried out a new hiking trail and ended up hiking five miles. There was a beautiful place to stop and eat lunch with a scenic view of the valley. It was very humid and hot, but a breeze would blow periodically so it wasn't bad. Everyone always tells us to not think or talk about the church when we are on our day off or on vacation. It's such a part of our lives that it's hard not to make it part of the conversation. But we did our best though as we walked in the quiet woods I was able to sort out two church challenges that I have ahead of me so I consider that a good thing. :-) Church ministry is a crazy beast and it amuses me when people say that the p...

This little one caught my eye yesterday at the market. His family was directly across the street from me, selling their fruits, vegetables and other homemade goods. He played while his older brothers, sister, and father set up the booth. He was a happy little guy. He smiled and was fascinated with the market mascot, a man dressed in a dog costume. He helped his older brothers carry some things. He played, ate pizza, and dosed in a chair. He was a sweet three year old. This family is there each week, working hard, being pleasant and providing valuable goods to the community at a very reasonable price.  And then about an hour before the market closed, two men rode by on bikes and screamed obscenities about the Amish down the street. Everyone froze and it put a damper on the day.  But what broke my heart was the look on this family's faces; especially the children. These children had to hear hateful words spewed out about them by adults.  Hatred ...

      It's been one of those weeks that could be described as a trying or worrying kind of week. It's been a week that's been productive and I've gotten much accomplished even with a day off, hiking with Dan. I put together and put out a large mailing for a district retreat that will be virtual this year. I did much work for the church. I went to a board meeting last night.  I started baking for the market tomorrow, I finished 2 orders and sewed some things for my Etsy shop. I made dinner each night and even managed to do some cleaning.  These are all good things, b ut buzzing around my thoughts all day long are concerns. Worries that made me snap at my family a couple of times, and for which I apologized. Concerns that kept knots in my stomach. And a feeling of being torn. My mom's cancer is back but this time it's worse. It's in her lymph nodes. One of the tumors is in her chest and putting pressure on the main artery that g...

Psalm 63:1-8 (HCSB) ~ God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You. I thirst for You; my body faints for You in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water. So I gaze on You in the sanctuary to see Your strength and Your glory. My lips will glorify You because Your faithful love is better than life. So I will praise You as long as I live; at Your name, I will lift up my hands. You satisfy me as with rich food; my mouth will praise You with joyful lips. When I think of You as I lie on my bed, I meditate on You during the night watches because You are my helper; I will rejoice in the shadow of Your wings. I follow close to You; Your right hand holds on to me. Desolate, parched and dry, stinging sand, scorching sun, hot, exhausting, and unending.  These are all words that describe the desert.  Being in a desert place in your life can feel like it will never end.  Day in and day out you face the same scenery.  Nothin...

      Dan and I went hiking yesterday back at the same spot where we had our 11.5 mile mishap last week. Only this time we got on the right trail loop and enjoyed a not so strenuous 6 mile hike through the forest. Then we stopped at the Rimrock overlook and walked down to the huge rocks overlooking the valley and had lunch. It was such a pleasurable day. I grew up in the Catskill Mountains and one of my favorite places to be is out in the woods. I can think more clearly as I walk there. Dan and I enjoy conversation but more often than not, we are silent as we walk, each lost in our own thoughts and enjoyment of the forest. Sometimes I solve a problem in my head. Other times I get writing inspiration. And still other times, I hear the Lord speaking to me about something. I often have to wipe away the spider threads that hit my face as I walk between bushes. They have spun their webs overnight. The occasiona...