surrendering communication

we have chosen to live 

in the wilds

surrounded by woods, fields

sky, space and silence

I breathe free here

but there is a cost

the trees block signals

from cell towers

texts and calls rarely come through

until I am away from home

this is why we have a land-line

an umbilical cord

of connection

to the world

effective until something

malfunctions

like mice nibbling 

in the junction box

almost a mile away

this has happened two or

three times over the years

and likely the cause

of our current

lack of service

I can't call out

no one can call in

and my cell signal

is almost

non-existant

I have grumbled

complained, pouted

frustration simmering hot

chipping away at nerves

I must find my peace

in surrender

giving up easy access

to anyone but Him

Who always hears

always listens

only a thought away

Then you will call on me 

and come and pray to me, 

and I will listen to you.

Jeremiah 29:12 NIV

Day 18 of 31 Days of Surrender
 

Missing here....

Oh how I miss this white space here
the freedom to release whatever tumbles in my brain
or rests heavy in my heart

Tornado winds knocked out our power Tuesday night and restoration has not yet come
I plug in cell phone and laptop to recharge when I am able to go to town and find a place to plug in.
Today I find peace and hi-speed wireless in the coffee room of a friend's business and a bathroom with a flushing toilet!

Those of you familiar with country living will surely understand that no electricity also means no water as the pumps shut off.

One end of a downed power line started a fire in the back field Wednesday afternoon.  Good and watchful neighbors noticed the smoke and called Rick home from work.  Volunteer fire department contained things quickly.  Power to that line was shut off and we were placed on the emergency list for service work.

Yesterday afternoon, for reasons unknown, the power to that line was switched on again, and once more the field caught fire.  Same neighbor phoned, same fire workers returned, and this time two old graineries burned along with more hay, almost to a tree line.  Scary, scary stuff, but nothing of value hurt except my nerves.

I am reminded again and yet again that surely God is in control for we certainly are not.

Manitoba Hydro is busy working removing trees so they can replace power lines.  Perhaps as they said, service will be restored tonight, not quite trusting that yet.

Pictures will follow when I'm able.  Maybe after a nice hot shower......

Life here is... and the scent of water

Life on an acreage in the Canadian prairies is like living a dream I never knew I had
more than I could have imagined
here is space, and clean air and freedom to be
here is a sky littered with stars
here is where my dog runs and runs and runs without ever leaving her own land
here are barn cats and hummingbirds and fresh veggies from the garden

and here is well water, an almost endless supply to pump from the ground into our home
and with it the unpleasant aroma that can seem to take up every inch of indoors
when the filtration system malfunctions or simply can't handle the balance of matter in the water

I light scented candles to mask the smell
I shower quickly
dishes are washed and rinsed with alarming speed
and, yes, I complain...

This morning, I think of those who have no water at all
or they have water but if they drink it they will die anyway
we use sweet, clear bottled water for drinking and cooking
my health is not threatened
and I know things will sort themselves out

so pardon me for my grumbling
and if you feel led to pray
pray for those who live and die without all we take for granted



 

Breathing Him

Away from the noise
static, harsh spirits
on the road
I inhale Jesus
and peace comes

Finding home in Him again
as kilometers click away
we find each other
and the Christ identities
that seemed lost

This was the view from my seat during a relaxing meal along the shores of the Chippewa River.
I soaked in the beauty only God could fashion
and exhaled "yes"
Amen

He hems me in

Since I first saw the word for this week's carnival I can't seem to stop whistling and singing Cole Porter's Don't Fence Me In:

Give me land, lots of land, under starry skies above
Don't fence me in
Let me ride thru the wide-open country that I love
Don't fence me in
Let me be by myself in the evening breeze
Listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever, but I ask you please
Don't fence me in

catchy song, and yet...

For most of my life
I fought against fences
running from love
running from anything that might hold me
running from the One I didn't even know was waiting
and I was the one building walls
fences that I thought might keep me safe

I was blind to the only One Who could offer true freedom
breathless, heart cramped from the running
till in His perfect time
I ran right into His arms
and in the fences He designs
out of His wisdom and great love
I am safe and finally free

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.  Psalm 139:5 NIV

and then He granted this lost one
born and raised in the limited space of  urban confines
the vast Canadian prairies
and we live with no fences
wild and free
in the shadow of His wings

Join the carnival at Peter Pollock's where the word is fences

Faith - ever growing

Peter's prompt for this week's One Word at a Time Carnival is pets.  I share below a story I first posted in July 2008.

One of the many blessings I received when we moved to our country home was the chance to have a dog. I had owned house cats for years (indoor only), and people thought of me as a "cat person" not realizing the total fool I am for dogs. I simply was waiting for the right time and place to invite one into our lives. My years of urban apartment dwelling and a lifestyle that included very little time spent at home did not lend itself to properly caring for a dog. Cats, though they love our company, can be quite self sufficient as long as they have food, water and a clean litter box. Dogs that live indoors need someone to come home at reasonable intervals to walk them. With acres of space and no neighbors in close proximity, it was time to add a canine member to our family.

Enter a three month old border collie crossed with husky or malamute and who knows what else. Thinking border collie, I was expecting her to be black and white, not the lovely cream and tan ball of fluff Rick brought home in a box. She had crisp and engaging clear blue eyes and so much fur that we were calling her "polar bear butt". Was it love at first sight? You bet! I knew that I was to name her Faith. Young and small as she was, the joke became "Oh, you of little Faith."

She would become an outside dog, but until she was old enough to have all of her shots she spent most of her time in the house with me. One day I was working on the computer and she was curled up near my feet and I began to sing "My little Faith is growing, my Faith is growing bigger everyday." Immediately I sensed the Lord speak into my spirit: That is exactly as it should be.

Faith has grown to be a beautiful, energetic dog that seems to enjoy every moment of her life. She lavishes us with affection. She shows us the same unconditional love that our Heavenly Father desires us to walk in. When she sees me, she comes running towards me in bounding leaps.

No longer can it be said of me "Oh, you of little Faith" for now indeed I have "a bounding Faith". And again I hear my Father say: As it should be, My child. As it should be.

Click over to Peter Pollock's to join in the carnival - sharing about pets.