And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground and wild animals, each according to its kind.” Genesis 1:24 [NIV]
by Linda Doerge
Today I am sitting on the deck of my humble central Kentucky home, enjoying the warm sunshine and gentle breezes. As I lean back in my chair and close my eyes, I reflect on the past month. A month that was filled with flowering white and pink dogwoods and yellow daffodils.
And, I remember seeing as I drove my grandson to school, the beauty of small groups of three to six thoroughbreds playfully racing across green fields. And, I recall the beauty and peacefulness of driving on two lane country roads under the arching branches of hardwood trees. The cold, icy days of winter were behind, and now the earth was preparing for the coming of what is considered (at least in Kentucky) the most exciting day in horse racing, the Kentucky Derby.
The Kentucky Derby is always the first Saturday in May, and suddenly the peacefulness of April turns into a frenzy of activity for Kentuckians and our thoroughbreds. On Derby Day, those beautiful horses are clothed in the colors of their owners. And everyone who sees them will express feelings of amazement of their beauty and grace.
Those attending the Derby will also be dressed in their finest. Especially, the women with their fancy Derby hats. And, attention will be drawn to the beauty and handsomeness of those attending. As for the weather for this coming Saturday, it may be filled with sunshine and warm temperatures or it may be filled with rain and gusty winds, but the wild excitement of the day will remain.
[bctt tweet=”God gives us times of peacefulness when we can take in and absorb the beauty around us.” username=”womenoftheelca”]
The experience of our lives is like the spring and Derby in Kentucky. God gives us times of peacefulness when we can take in and absorb the beauty around us.
Times when we can take some deep breaths and restore our bodies and minds. Times when we can reflect on this miraculous and awesome world. Times when we can playfully race across the fields of our lives.
Then there are the other times when our lives are filled with frenzy. Sometimes it is the excitement of weddings, graduations, specials anniversaries, etc. And, sometimes our frenzied lives are filled with illness, divorce, death or other catastrophic events.
Just as sometimes the excitement of Derby Day ends with a thoroughbred that must be “put down” due to an injury while running the Derby, so are the events of our lives.
I am thankful in knowing that it is my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior that will help me make it through each day: the peaceful, the frenzied, and the painful. And, I pray that faith will carry each one of us through this day and all that follow.
Linda Doerge is the president of Indiana-Kentucky synodical women’s organization and a member of Gethsemane, Lexington, Ky., as well a wife, mother and grandmother.
+++++++
Photo: WEBN-TV | CC BY-ND 2.0
reply
retweet
favorite