Freedom

 "Freedom to Breathe"

By: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

“A shower fell in the night and now dark clouds drift across the sky, occasionally sprinkling a fine film of rain. I stand under an apple-tree in blossom and I breathe. Not only the apple-tree but the grass round it glistens with moisture; words cannot describe the sweet fragrance that pervades the air. Inhaling as deeply as I can, the aroma invades my whole being; I breathe with my eyes open, I breathe with my eyes closed – I cannot say which gives me the greater pleasure.

This I believe, is the single most precious freedom that prison takes away from us: the freedom to breathe freely, as I now can. No food on earth, no wine, not even a woman’s kiss is sweeter to me than this air steeped in the fragrance of flowers, of moisture and freshness.

No matter that this is only a tiny garden, hemmed in by five storey houses like cages in a zoo. I cease to hear the motorcycles backfiring, the radios whining, the burble of loudspeakers. as long as there is fresh air to breathe under an apple-tree after a shower, we may survive a little longer.”

While enjoying the beautiful morning, soaking up the sun in the backyard, we happened to spy a new butterfly, perched on our willow tree.  We ran over to check it out only to find that it was laying eggs right on the branch of the tree.  After some quick searching we discovered it was a Mourning Cloak.  It struck me once more that in almost 43 years of life, I have never once seen this species before.  When you look closely at the eggs each one has a tiny star pattern on it...amazing!  This is what I love about Nature...it never disappoints...it gives you new experiences every time you venture outdoors.

The girls and I hike at two different parks this afternoon.  We saw many frogs, minnows, Sienna caught a crayfish, copious wildflowers in every color, daffodils and of course many different butterflies.  We even met a guy who was out foraging for morel mushrooms!

We are so quick to surrender our "freedom"...to be content with staying indoors, eyes locked onto our screens, never experiencing all there is to see in the wonderful world.  We give up our freedom when we forget how to just go for a walk in the woods with no expectations whatsoever.  We give up real relationships in favor of interactions online.  In reading the above Solzhenitsyn poem this morning, I was reminded again how much joy and meaning and vitality I receive from being outdoors, appreciating God's magnificent Creation.  The author appreciated the freedom to take in all the sights and smells and sounds of nature down to the minutia, after being imprisoned for 10 years.  May we never forget all of the opportunities we have, each day, to live life to the fullest, taking in all the incredible sights and sounds and smells, and focusing on the blessings, cultivating gratitude and appreciation and wonder...

Saved...

 

This week we took advantage of the amazingly warm weather to visit McConnell's Mill State Park.  This has been a favorite place of mine since college as it is so beautiful and so different from the farmland and rolling hills that surround it.  The river rapids, the enormous boulders, strewn all throughout the park as if tossed there by some giant...I can't help but be amazed every time I go.

The kids spent the first hour fishing, with only Reese catching a tiny minnow.  Then we embarked on our longest family hike ever, about a four mile round trip.  The kids knew that we were hiking until we reached a bridge...again and again they asked, are we there yet?  Along the way, maybe every 1/8 mile, there are life preservers.  Eva asked me, "What are those for, Mama?"  I explained to her that the rapids along the path can be extremely treacherous during rainy times of year.  As one of these preservers came into view, the sun was shining down through the trees, illuminating it in a very noticeable way...almost beautiful.  I stopped to look at it for just a few seconds and a spiritual parallel came to mind.   Our journey of life can be incredibly difficult and perilous at times.  We have to struggle over rocks and boulders and avoid falling into deadly rapids which come in the form of so many trials and temptations: financial problems, lies, broken relationships, addictions, disease, grief, loneliness, misplaced priorities, ingratitude and jealousy....

And finally, the bridge came into view.  The kids sighed in relief...we made it...finally!  Oh, but were they in for a shock.  "Guys, this is just the half-way point.  Now we have to walk all the way back."  After many groans we made our way back along the path, stopping to admire rocks and trees and flowers and the river that ran alongside us.  We passed by those life preservers again.  And it struck me all over again.  Christ is our "life preserver."  He is ready and waiting to save us, all of us, if we will only call out to Him, believe in Him, and follow Him.  It is so deceptively easy to rush through life without giving much thought to Him, and to our need for Him.  He is just like that life preserver...ready, waiting...able to save us if we will take hold of Him.  But it's a choice each one of us must make.  And in doing so we can finally "take hold of the life that is truly life." (1 Tim 6:19)

Reminders

Song of Solomon 2:11-13

See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.

Eva was begging me all day for the past two days to go on a hike to look for butterflies.  Tonight we were finally able to go and we were blessed to find something even more special.  While there were a few stray butterflies at the park where we walked, our attention was drawn almost entirely to the beautiful patches of daffodils that were in full bloom.  On this golden, 80-degree spring day, there could not have been a better finale than a hike through thousands of daffodils.  

As we walked, I remembered so many springs past, how much I looked forward to seeing our daffodils come up.  Every Easter, I remember my mom dressing my brothers and I for church early on Sunday morning and sitting outside by one of our patches of daffodils.  I remember the smell of them...a smell I continue to enjoy and encourage my kids to enjoy even now.  So fresh and new and lovely.  

Winter is past...those three words spark joy in my heart.  As we drove home from our hike tonight I was reflecting on the many ways God shows me His love and care and attention for me...ways I often ignore or overlook.  I'm always too busy focusing on the things I can't control, the negatives.  

How do we train our minds to live in perpetual gratitude, even when we are experiencing difficulties and trials?  I think the key is that one word....we must train.  We must, daily, devote our attention to God, remembering all that He has done for us, all the promises of what He will do for us, and first and foremost trusting that He is a God of love.  

God, help me to train my mind in gratitude.  Help me to see every day the true magnificence of all that You have made for me to enjoy!  I thank you for these simple, yet powerful reminders tonight.  Amen.