Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Barriers
* Scripture: Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you -- Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (from John 14:27., NKJV)

Talk about the need to play catch-up! There she stood, gazing over the two fences bordering the highway, ears erect, the distance between them rapidly increasing. The other deer had quickly cleared the fences, their white flag tails flashing in the morning light, and were already at the far side of the field. This one still stood, almost looking like one of those yard statues, but I wasn't about to move my car until she crossed the road. All at once, she ducked her head and went through a hole in the fence!
Once hesitant, she was now almost a blur of motion, racing after the others. I couldn't help but give a chuckle of surprise, because I fully expected her to do a follow the leader up OVER the fence.
I guess one lesson learned from this incident is to always expect the unexpected!
Deer are so plentiful in our area, and we have watched them so often, that we just normally expect them to jump fences. I counted as ten deer moved across our fields the previous evening. Up would flash their distinctive white tails, up and over the three or four fences they would go, then follow their well-worn trail into the creek bottoms where they spend their evenings.
My wife and I went out to feed our livestock one evening, and encountered two half-grown deer behind the barn. One was in the fenced lane, and panicked when we appeared. It charged the fence head-on, thrusting its head between the wires. Like a vertical trampoline, the fence bounced the deer back on its haunches. Again and again that deer charged the fence, until I became concerned that it would break its neck. We withdrew into the barn, and the pair slowly made their way along the fence. They must have finally remembered what mama had told them about fences, cleared them easily, and disappeared into the adjoining woods.
Sometimes we, too, panic when we see a barrier separating us from something we very deeply desire. Something blocking the way; a weight pulling us down. We stand, immobilized, anxious, watching our hopes dim in the distance.
When the deer in these illustrations finally realized that they had by nature the answer to the problem that confronted them, they did what God intended, and jumped those barriers!
What a panicky time when we see God seemingly fade into the distance. However, God intended by nature that we should desire Him, and come unto Him. Ask, and you will receive peace and comfort.
March 19, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* The Garden Fence
* Scripture: Paul wrote, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11, NKJV

One, two, three, four, five . . . RABBITS! No, I wasn’t bleary-eyed from watching too many cartoons with ‘wascally wabbits,” nor reading books, either. And I doubt if these bunnies answered to any name, let alone Bugs or Peter. But they were definitely real, and definitely in my garden. Bounding about. Having a gay old time. So much for “rabbit fence.”
So, I stood watching them do rabbit stuff for a while. One came bounding toward me (through the fence, of course) and stopped about five feet from my feet, gave me a once-over, made a slight detour, and proceeded on his (her?) way. The others leaped and dashed about my sacred place, sampled some of the lettuce, stretched out in total relaxation, and looked to be thoroughly enjoying themselves - at my expense, of course. Finally, they joined in a game of follow-the-leader, through the fence, down the stream bank, and on to what ever rabbits do when they are not in a garden.
Brought back memories of last summer, when I worked and worked on that fence, battled the groundhogs, those scheming diggers, and thought that I had outsmarted the rabbits. Well, move over, Mr. McGreagor; I went to dig some potatoes one day, and discovered a nice, cozy, rabbit’s nest right in the straw mulch in the potato patch! Baby bunnies, right in the heart of my secure treasure island!
Well, I also need to mention that the reason I went to the garden in the first place was to check for weeds coming up after the few days of rain. They were there, all right, growing nicely, thank you. And the rabbits bounded over them gaily toward the good stuff. So now I have both weeds and rabbits in the garden. Vigilance exposed them; much diligence will be required to control them.
Vigilance, diligence, I see some similarities between my garden life and my spiritual life.
So you have a “fence” (armor) around your treasured walk in “The Way?” Checked it lately? Just when you think you have it all buttoned up - Hippedy-hop! Just when you least expect it, the devil breaks through your defenses (spiritual armor.)
Satan is more wascally than any rabbit, more wily than a coyote, a better under miner than the sharpest-clawed groundhog. And he probably packs a bag of ‘weed’ seeds as he hops through your best intentions, humming and strewing his assorted ills as he penetrates your most cherished inner space. (At least the rabbits take out more than they bring in.)
Now let’s see; if I can dig that fence so deep that they won’t go under it, and go so high they can’t hop over it, maybe I can get the sweet corn to knee heighth so it won’t interest rabbits. But then - raccoons can climb, and - how high can deer jump?
It’s going to be a l-o-n-g summer!
May 29, 2005

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com

Scripture: Paul wrote, “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Titus 2:7,8 NIV

The deer were obviously not fully grown, although they no longer had the spots of fauns. My wife and I came upon them as we started back our lane to bring the lambs to the barn for their morning feed. One was in the paddock with the ram; the other was in the lane. When they saw us, about the time we saw them, both made a dash for the fence. Not over, as experienced adult deer would do, but straight at it, as if it didn’t exist! The results were predictable. They hit it hard enough that they rebounded back, falling in a tangle of legs on the ground.
The one in with the ram made a couple of tries at the 48 inch high fence, turned, went over the 32 inch fence, and disappeared into the woods.
The deer in the lane, a path between two 48 inch high fences, tried even harder. I was concerned that the poor thing would break its neck! It really smacked that fence! Over and over, working its way down the fence toward us; we were standing stock still, not wanting to spook it further. It came within about ten feet of me.
Finally, I suggested that if we moved slowly toward it, the deer might move on back through the lane. And it did, struggling, sticking its head through the fence, and smacking it as it went along. Reaching the area at the top of the hill, at a spot where the fence sagged a bit, it finally leaped over it, and went off through the trees.
You know, there was not a thing I could do to “talk” those deer over the fences. It would probably have been best if we turned and walked slowly away. I thought, “How like those deer many people are.”
We see people all the time caught up between the ‘fences’ of life, struggling, smacking the boundaries, and suffering because they don’t know how to escape the lifestyle they are in. It is often just as frustrating trying to help someone caught in life's “fast lane.” They want to be happier, to be less stressed out, to get new results from old customs; they don’t want advice or preaching from “holier-than-thou’s.”
If there had been an adult deer present, it would have been no problem. They have smacked the fences before. Now, they know how to get over that barrier. The young ones would only have had to follow, and freedom would quickly have been theirs as well.
It is important to be an example in life so that others can see that there is a way to escape the ‘fences’ of the world. Actions often speak much louder than words.
October 3, 2002

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Paul wrote: So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time,if we do not give up.” (Gal. 5:9, NRSV)

My garden was really looking good. The temperatures and rainfall were ideal, and the seeds responded by sprouting and growing well. I put a fence around it, just over knee high, using a type that promises to guard against predatory rabbits.
It turns out that the fence was false security. The deer jumped over it, rabbits went through it, and groundhogs dug under it. Goodbye lettuce, adieu peas, farewell cabbage. Apparently they aren’t keen on chowing down on onions and horseradish, leaving those untouched, but that beautiful sweet corn, hip high by the 4th of July, became a disaster zone of bare cobs and broken stalks.
Fences won’t stop weeds, of course, so the usual variety of unwanted vegetation made its appearance. That, too, is part of gardening. Thistles made their annual visitation, thanks in part to immigration from the unmowed neighboring field. They are easy to pull, but I actually left some because of the service that they provided. Guardians of the goodies! Yes! Spinach. I did get several meals of spinach, because that was where I let the thistles grow. I’m still pondering that lesson.
In a sense, our entire lives are as a garden. We ‘plant’ many different things over the course of time. Just as the produce from my vegetable garden is true to the seed that I plant, so are the fruits from my spiritual ‘garden’ true to my lifestyle.
More of Paul’s insight: “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.” (Gal. 5:7-9, NRSV)
Should I expect weeds and animals to respect my long experience as a gardener, and not visit me? Of course not! They simply see my garden, or any garden, as a place to grow, or as a food source. Likewise, my Spiritual garden will be attacked by earthly impulses if given the slightest chance. Works of the flesh!
According to Paul, “the works of the flesh are obvious: Fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.” (Gal. 5:21a)
Will I plant another garden? Certainly! I know now that my simple fence was not adequate to the task. Nor can I be casual about my Spiritual fences, either. Like Paul, I desire to reap at the harvest. I will do what is right.

“The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity faithfulness, gentleness and self control.” (Galations 5:22-23, NRSV)
Grow for it!