(Pretty, huh? It was a bit hazy, so the hills are bit 'subdued' This is a seriously 'Kentish' scene, by the way! Hills, farm, oasthouses.... I'm handing you a freakin' postcard, here, people!)
Pretty soon the thinking turned to singing . Now, the dog doesn't mind that. She's used to it, she loves me and is very forgiving....plus I feed her, so she's learned to let some things slide. There I was in full 'This is the daaaaay that the Loooord has maaaaade....' mode when I realised that a woman was overtaking me on the left flank.
Damn.
It's very hard pretending that your full-on supposed private worship session was actually you speaking to your dog! There are some who'd say that it shouldn't matter; that it's a witness and who would probably quote verses at me about not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.......
I'm not.
It's not the gospel I'm worried about- it's my singing. No-one needs to have that sort of audio assault when they're minding their own business on their way somewhere! Note to self- wait till you're off the pathways before caterwauling aloud.
But I digress......
In the fields, it was just lovely.
Flowers...blossom, SPRING!!!!
Rosie enjoying a romp through the field- who cares about dewy, soggy paws, or the state of my coat when she gave a 'look how happy I am!' jump at me seconds later? Not Rosie, that's for sure. (Serves me right for crouching down to take the pic)
So- in the middle of the field, looking at scenery that the photos don't do justice to (and you'd get sick of me sharing ALL of them here!), I felt so, so grateful that I live so close to places where I can recharge my batteries and enjoy the peace in a busy life. It's one thing I actually do feel grateful for on a daily basis. We've lived in some tough old places. I know what it's like to be stuck in a bedsit in the middle of a city, or to live in a house where you can't relax because every minute you're waiting for the next stone to hit your window and dread coming home because you know something else will have been vandalised; where you worry how the local teens will try to hurt your kids THIS time when they go outside.
As you can imagine, living here is a real blessing. It's one I don't take for granted- but it struck me today how many other things I do. It's easy to count the blessings when those blessings are a real answer to prayer- a whole change of life. But I'm guilty of forgetting the things that aren't so obviously brilliant. This could turn into a cliche- 'hey, count your blessings and be grateful for it all' post if I'm not careful- but I've kind of ended up challenging myself now to show God some gratitude for the crappy stuff too. Not because it's crappy- but because it played a part in me getting to the place where I can appreciate the good stuff in a way I may not have done otherwise.
I knew that after my walk this morning, I'd physically pay for it. I don't have the best health in the world- and I was right- I ached like crazy and have had to dose up on pain relief. So I'm going to start with that.
Thank you, Lord that I get to feel the pain. I hate it and I wish it wasn't there- but it is and right now, you're allowing me to feel it, so that means I've got to shut up and listen for once to what you're teaching me through it. And thank you that it's being in pain that makes me more determined to get off my butt and get out there because I refuse to feel sorry for myself and I refuse to let the pain and tiredness win. If I didn't make myself do this- I'd miss out on the beauty and restorative power of this world- my part of it- that you've made. I'd miss out on the opportunity NOT to take it for granted.
It may not be a big theological truth- but it's my truth. Gotta develop more of that attitude of gratitude!
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