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“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea. Drink the wild air’s salubrity.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

It’s the time of year when our family enjoys being outside in our yard. We sit out back on the patio to warm up in the sun’s rays. On those days when the sun is too hot or too humid, we sit on the side of the house, where a tall pine tree keeps us cooler with its shade.

The tree was quite small when we moved in about twenty five years ago. We could not have anticipated its branches spreading as full and wide over the driveway then. We have often discussed taking the tree down for various reasons and always I fought to leave it be.

Many fun times and good conversations have taken place in its shade. That day was no different.

Returning from an errand, I found mom and dad enjoying the shade. Mom listening to talk radio and Dad on his ipad, exploring news bits. We sat and talked about what was happening in the news – mostly politics, truth be known. Then dad asked the question, “Jo, I have been looking at this tree. What is that all over the branches?”

I looked up to see lightly colored tips on many branches and had no idea. We wondered if it was new growth or could it be pine cones. Then we laughed as dad commented, “If it’s pine cones, there are going to be hundreds this year!”

It was then I asked, “Have you ever used the zoom feature on the camera on your ipad?” He said he hadn’t. Using my phone, I showed him just how to do it and the photo it could take. But neither of us could have imagined the beauty which would appear.

The enjoyment and appreciation we experienced when viewing with our unassisted eyes could not compare to the beauty and majesty which now was before us. The three of us no longer made note of the pollen or the annoyance of sap from the tree. None of that mattered in those moments of soaking up the grandeur before us.

And we will never view the pine tree in quite the same manner.

“Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being.” (Romans 1:20, The Message)

Take a look around today.
A long and thoughtful look
may reveal to you His mystery.

 

 

Today I am joining … Thought Provoking Thursday and Grace Moments .