Category Archives: Musings

Living the Dream

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Welcome back, my beloveds! Seems like we are half way through summer already — how’s it going?! Too fast? Yeah, us as well. The pool is green again and the pond is bubbling, so we are all up to snuff over here. In fact, I was telling a co-worker, recently, where we were and what all is on the property, and she commented “Ah.. you’re just living the dream.” Which caught me musing.

Are we really “living the dream”? What even is the dream? My dream? The all Canadian dream of independence, health and happiness? Surely, this life isn’t for everyone. In fact, I don’t even think the hubby would say we are living his dream. I more than likely dragged him kicking and screaming into my dream with the promises of fresh eggs and a bit of land ownership. It’s a fact, that yes, we … okay I … searched for three long years to find my little piece of property where chickens could roam and a few creatures could be had. I looked for a century home that had all the fixings I wanted with a bit of modern conveniences. It had to be far enough out, but not too far from “home” and our family. Itsnotta farm checked a lot of my dream boxes… but are we living the dream?

I will openly admit that I was drawn to the Instagram worthy country scene of friendly chickens and wild flowers on the porch. I’m not the girl in linen dress and straw sun hat dancing through sunflower fields, but I could fake it if I wanted. I could show you only the cute bunnies playing and digging around in the dirt. I could show you our bubbling waterfall at the pond. I would not show you the bucket full of bunny poop I collected today with sweat and mosquitoes. I would not show you the stinging nettle rash up my arms from the pulling the relentless weeds. Or the muck and mire they vacuumed out of the pond before we got the water moving again. I won’t mention the frustration and agony of my husband’s constant battle with lawn mowers and pool filters. These are the nightmares that accompany the dream. It’s work and it’s real.

Am I “Living the dream?”

So, I’m torn. Despite the blood, sweat and tears, I love this place. I sat on my porch the other day with book in hand and cool breezes blowing across my sun-kissed skin and I watched a morning dove coo at me from the over head wire and I smiled. It was my dream come true. It still is. Yet, the deeper muse here… where should we be focused? Have all my dreams been wrapped up here on this so called heaven-on-earth? Can I really be living the dream only when I am focused on my place here? In this fleeting moment? We won’t be here forever. Our bodies will age and the fight with the lawnmowers will get tougher. We won’t be able to keep up with all the work that needs to be done. Soon, we will be surrounded by only our people… not our property. The people we have brought into our circle. We can only take people with us to Heaven. Our relationships must focus on the bigger picture. The true dream of forever with Jesus must be our mantra. And we must share it with anyone and everyone.

Our Sunday service this week focused on the words of Revelation chapter 22... “the Lord is coming soon!” It was a reminder to me that yes, although my life here on earth is like “living the dream”… it will be a soon forgotten memory when I stand face to face with my Maker. Living trees in Heaven won’t need pruning. Rivers in Heaven won’t need mucking out. There won’t be curses (or mosquitoes?) or grass to cut. Then you can come over to my mansion and play with my bunnies… no shoveling involved.

Still, the true part of living that dream will be hanging out with Jesus for eternity. Sitting at His feet and listening to the stories of the disciples and how they too, must have thought they were living the dream with Jesus by their side. Until paradise, when they realized, that forever will be the dream. I can only imagine!

The Importance of Rest: Finding Time to Pause and Reflect

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Ever feel like you need a vacation from a vacation? I wonder why we feel like that. It seems as though we are in prime season for vacations, and everyone is off doing this or that for “holidays” … but no one seems to have really had a time of “rest”. We plan and organize and fill our days with activities – which – don’t get me wrong – are all fun things to do – but it seems like often the time off seems like time on. Take our weekend for example, we visited family and friends and worked on the farm, did house chores, animal chores, church etc. etc. and then boom! we were back at work again! Where did the down time come in to effect? I am sad to say that I didn’t carve out that time to chill with just me and God and our thoughts for each other. I had a great weekend… just not a restful one.

Rest seems to be an elusive creature, doesn’t it? Even when our kids were small, we made sure they were active and involved in extra curricular sports and clubs, so that they enjoyed their time. Now, as they are older, we’ve shipped them off to summer jobs to work their summer holidays away. Yet, I find myself wondering if what we really need is time to do “nothing”. Not scrolling on our phones, not napping, not reading, but simply breathing. Still. Listening to the world around us and watching it go by. Waiting to hear God’s still, soft voice in the wind, echoing into our hearts, which only when we rest are attuned to His voice. It’s tough to do. Our minds and bodies are so busy.

Psalm 37 says “be still before the Lord”. How many times do we do this? What does it mean? A few verses before remind us to “delight in the Lord” and “dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture”. Moving to the country has allowed me to witness this. Cows and chickens “dwell in safe pasture” easily. They sit. They stare at the world going by them with little worry. (Have you ever watched a cow’s face when you drive by? They watch you as if to say, “slow down and enjoy the ride, you silly human!”) They chew some grass, they peck at some bugs, wander down field or up a hill. They enjoy a good drink when it’s hot. They “rest” without stress. They take the time to just “dwell” in the land. People seldom do.

We are so hurried. We need to get stuff done. We flit from job to job like busy bees upon a field of wildflowers. Even when we are on vacation. Have you ever looked at a mini van packed for a road trip? Or sat in an airport and watched people prepare for a flight? Passports, paperwork, lists and suitcases chocked full of things to do and an outfit for every activity. And I don’t have all the answers… my suitcase is just as full as yours. I simply muse at the fact that we are asked and reminded to “rest” … and we don’t. Until we, sometimes, are forced to.

Burn outs are real and common place in our day and age. Stress related illnesses and all kinds of ailments are the result of not taking a moment to breathe. We were not meant to be the energizer bunny. Eventually, our batteries give out and we come to a grinding halt. God designed us that way. We are meant to rest. Our physical and mental (and spiritual!) bodies need to reset and recoup. It’s in this time of rest that we fill up our own cups so that we can spill out and fill other people’s buckets up.

Therefore, as we muse about this thing called rest together, I will try remind myself to pause and reflect once and awhile, as I write to encourage you to do the same. Even when we embark on the remainder of the summer season with all it’s leisure activities – remember to pencil in some time for “nothing” but rest.

A Day off to Rest!

Celebrate!

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We’re back from a week or so vacation celebrating a family wedding. While we were away, we had the privilege of celebrating not only July 1st for Canada Day, but July 4th for Independence Day in the United States of America. Both occasions involved public fireworks displays. In fact, fireworks were even at a birthday gathering we attended. And so, this week’s muse had me thinking about pyrotechnics and where it all began and why? Apparently, the first “firework” was said to have started in China around 400ish B.C. when someone accidentally threw a bamboo stick in the fire creating a loud “boom” as pockets of air heated up. Firecrackers and large noise makers were said to scare off evil spirits. Later, with the invent of gunpowder, military operations took the firework to new heights (ha, did ya see what I did there?) and now we see them used in celebrations of all kinds: religious, births, marriages, proposals and family gatherings. And, of course, public displays to celebrate Freedoms in many countries. The odd concert and sporting event uses them too. Plenty of money goes up in smoke for the sake of celebration!

Credit: Base firework image by Artur Strecker/Pixabay, infographic by Scott Sutherland

The original fire displays were all orange. The Italians began experimenting with different chemicals, and eventually, somewhere around 1830’s the “modern” firework was born. Named after flowers, spiders, Roman candles, even cakes, the experts all have their favourites. Sparkles and shooting stars. I saw a new one this year that looked like Saturn with rings. I like the shooting star things that sprinkle down. Or the squiggle ones that corkscrew away. Luckily, neither my kids or creatures have trouble with fireworks or big booming noises. I fear it is a concern for quite a few families. I hear they have silent fireworks now … and fancy drone displays as technology grows to allow for alternative light shows.

No matter what the colour or shape, fireworks somehow have moved away from their dangerous military beginnings, to one of celebration. Baby gender reveals with blue and pink streaks. Sparklers on birthday cakes. If used wisely, it’s all in good fun. Of course, gunpowder is still dangerous. In the USA, 8 deaths were reported in 2023. Injuries usually involve young males. No comment. Be safe, people! Celebrations should be just that, celebrations! And yet, I can’t help but think of another celebration that quickly turned awry.

Photo by Rakicevic Nenad on Pexels.com

When Jesus entered Jerusalem with His disciples riding a colt of a donkey, the people celebrated His entry with celebrity status. They had heard of this Jesus, maker of miracles, and waved palm branches and yelled “Hosanna”. I’m not sure everyone in the crowd was a firm believer in His teachings. I am sure many of them got caught up in the spectacle, as we did being Canadians on Independence Day. It’s all in good fun. Until it wasn’t. Many hoped Jesus was bringing the Jews freedom from oppression. He was, but not in the way they expected. He was their new King, but not in the way they expected. Their celebration quickly turned to accusation. The next time Jesus was eyed by onlookers in the streets… it was carrying His cross.

Big public displays of celebration carry a lot of emotions. Crowds can get frenzied up… for good or bad. Human nature wants us to believe in something. Fireworks make me think of patriotism to our country and the freedoms we have in it. Birth announcements, parties, family gatherings all give us a chance to reminisce not only about the past, but look forward to what future generations will celebrate in time. Make sure it’s safe. God’s plan is often different than our own, and we can get caught up in thinking one way, when life leads us in a different direction sometimes.

Either way, God gives us a sprinkle of light often enough that it’s fun to enjoy it. Celebrate with fireworks! Be the light display in the darkness for all to ooh and awe at! Ka-boom!