Wind.
One of the most amazing things about The Ranch is the Wind.
I have often commented to individuals that for me, I can hear God walking more clearly here through the wind in the trees that I can hear Him at any other time. I think this may freak some people out - after all, if God is walking through the trees, what is He doing? What is He saying?
I never really have an answer for them, of course.
I never really have an answer because I cannot really explain why I believe He is walking in the trees in the first place.
Were you to ask me, I would simply say that Genesis says that God walked in the cool of the Garden, so I certainly know that He does like walking around in His creation. Why should it surprise me that He would still choose to do it?
I am reminded by some, of course, that the wind happens everywhere else; does that mean God does not walk other places?
I am not foolish enough to definitively comment that He does not; what I will say that wind filtered not through Nature but rather through civilization sounds a great deal different to me, like the muddled conversation of a restaurant or bar.
Perhaps I am too simplistic in thinking that God walks in the trees. Then again - at least for me - I often hear Him the more clearly when He does.
Sitting on stand, waiting for a suitable deer to walk by, listening to the wind and birds calling instills peace in me that cannot be described. City living has dulled our senses so much, I think the sound of Nature is far better than 'Civilization'.
ReplyDeleteI can recall in my youth, spending plenty of 'porch time' waiting for the south Texas sun to go down and allow the place to cool off. Peaceful time - really does help the soul. God truly does dwell in the rurals.
You are lucky to be staying in such a place - cherish it.
Anonymous - "Instilling peace". Yes, that is it exactly. The sounds and textures of the leaves and needles blowing instill peace, not the anxious sounds of civilization which only seem to instill a driving force to be somewhere else.
Delete"God truly does dwell in the rurals". What a lovely phrase. Thank you.
He does, He always has.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Sarge. I need to remind myself of this more.
DeleteI think it’s a fair description of things TB. 😊👍
ReplyDeleteDuring thunder storms, I like to tell my craven, cowering dawgs that it’s only God rolling barrels around His shop.
It is not a bad guess Glen!
DeleteIt is odd to me that so many - even myself at times - flee to the wilderness on the weekends and holidays and vacation and may temporarily find this sensation, but rather than try and do what we can to bring it into our world, we do as much as we can to push our world into it.
My stomping grounds were full of wheat, milo, cotton and grass... I'd see the wind move and make waves.... It was and still is a comforting sight. Trees were few out in the llano estacado, so I don't remember much but them leaning over.
ReplyDeleteThe wind in the wires moaned. Like blowing across a blade of grass between your thumbs. Anything loose rattled, popped and banged until it broke off or you fastened it down. Usually that kind of wind left talcum powder consistency dirt piles where the air leaked in.
The wind out there is so constant, it factors into lots of decisions. It's a companion. Windy days make me homesick for that flat land....
I never thought of it as God walking His creation, but pondering on it, I can see it. Thunder is when He speaks, and that is something to behold on flat land.... as it rolls off into the distance....
STxAR - The wind here is also often a constant companion, but not in the same way - it less moans than rustles things and thankfully, there is not much dust to blow around.
DeleteI suppose (strictly speaking scripturally) I do not necessarily have a basis for "God Walking Around", except that He seems intimately familiar with His Creation, the way someone that visits somewhere a great deal knows the place in ways visitors do not.
In my not so humble opinion, the simpler, the closer to God. Humans make things complicated.
ReplyDeleteThis is my opinion as well Mike. Of course, I am also one of those folks that think that civilization at best is a mixed bag and at worst, has detracted more from Him and His glory than adding to it.
DeleteI would think that God would be one to favor walking through His creation over walking through ours. We read in the book of Revelations of great cities falling and the people lamenting over them. The cities had indeed become idols they worshiped! Even JESUS, when burdened with His earthly ministry, would retire to "a lonely place." Even in doing this, Jesus was teaching us what to do...
ReplyDeletePete - I think one of the silliest sermons I ever heard was the fact that God loves cities, based on the fact that at the end of Revelation, God brings down the New Jerusalem from Heaven. Granted that will be a pretty spectacular thing, but comparing that with modern urbanity as a sort of "God's best" seemed to stretch reality just a bit.
DeleteAnd yes, we never read of Christ recharging his batteries in the cities.
Yeah; and growing up around the ocean and serving 21 years in the Coast guard, seeing the sea go away is disappointing as well...
DeleteI know; it's symbolism...
Pete, I take refuge in the Psalms, where in Psalm 96:12 is says "Then all the trees of the forest shall shout for joy" at the Lord's coming. I am looking forward to that.
DeleteI don't believe God is confined to space or time as we understand it. In that sense, He can easily be walking there with you as well as here with me, at the same time.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Kelly, and I did not mean to infer that if I did. My point, I suppose, is I can almost sense Him here where I cannot in other places.
DeleteOh, I didn't feel you were inferring that...
DeleteI agree that it's in nature that I most often sense God.
Agreed Kelly - or certainly at least, for me.
DeleteThe last three days, my trees have been inundated with a cacophony of noisy birds of some sort. I'm not a birder so I don't what kind they are but assume they are pausing for a break on a trip further south. I can hear them with earmuffs on and my table saw on. They are quite loud. Perhaps God is yelling at me.
ReplyDeleteWell, He has to send those kinds of messages somehow, right?
DeleteA beautiful narrative, TB, and of course God is there in the wind as you are walking. Thanks for the reminder that his creation bears evidence of who He is.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome Bob. I certainly do enjoying sharing it with others.
Delete