WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! A Daughter Comes Home–Greg Webster

Today I’m waiting.

It seems we spend a lot of life doing that.

Perhaps the wait is for something that’s been in the future for years—getting married, having a baby, buying a house (moving to the country!)—or just a few minutes (standing in a check-out line can seem like an eternity). For me today, it’s been about six months.

Oldest daughter, Anna, left home on August 2 to spend three months working in Laos. Two months into her work there, it became obvious the assignment would take twice as long as expected. So three months after she was supposed to come home, I’m still on hold. But today, I’m just waiting for her flight(s) to make it to Nashville—via Seoul, Korea and Atlanta, Georgia.

This waiting bit is fascinating.

While I wait, Anna travels. My role is passive. Hers is active. To me, it feels like nothing is happening. To Anna, she is on the last leg of one of the greatest adventures of her life. For me, time stands still. For her…well…2o hours on a plane is probably going even slower. On the clock, in fact, her time is backing up. But even that harbors its own excitement of sorts.

The point is that something is going on while all I do is wait. Do I wish Anna was home right now? For sure. Will that make her trip go any faster? For sure not. The process has to work itself out in the appropriate amount of time before I will get what I want: Anna at home. Meanwhile, I might as well be patient. Otherwise, the waiting will only be harder and may become downright unpleasant. Besides, the outcome will be worth it.

Sounds a bit like answers to prayer, doesn’t it? God’s at work getting things lined up for us. We feel like nothing’s happening. But it is. If we just wait. Patiently.

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 Creative Country Views ©2014 Greg Webster. All rights reserved.

Pecking at God’s Provision–Greg Webster

Just in time for Thanksgiving: A turkey lesson.

From the porch swing at my office one morning, I watched a flock of wild turkeys grazing for food. Looking through the tree line across the road, it was difficult to tell how many there were—at least a dozen or so, several hens and a number of chicks.

I was fascinated by their peace and apparent contentment. They simply ate whatever appealed to them as they ambled along, and they seemed to find plenty. Then I thought about what their example means.

These creatures have no concept of the God who has placed them in this world and Who so perfectly provides for their needs. God, though, is pleased to do it. He gives to them merely because He is good, a loving Creator who cares for the animals He has made.

Turkeys cannot thank Him, or offer any conscious appreciation for His care. Yet God does it anyway. Is that not the greatest testimony possible to the Lord’s goodness? He gives to them what they need even though they don’t know what He is doing for them.

Which brings me to a point about us, the people He has made. What a privileged position we hold among all Creation! He provides us the same abundant world He offers the turkeys, yet He has fashioned us so we can know Him. We are privileged to be aware of this great and kind Maker to whom we owe our lives. That truly makes it an honor to be human beings among life forms. It points to our responsibility to appreciate Him as well and to trust Him for the provision He promises.

If you happen to have come to Creative Country Views from somewhere other than the Creative Country Living website, please check out our FREE online magazine about rural and agrarian life at: http://creativecountryliving.com/

©2004 Gregory G. Webster. All rights reserved.