Vermont is a place that for me is so simple, a haven, a place that you can find God. A place where you can find peace, can stop and reflect on the simple things in life that mean so much. The video above is one of many that we recorded the day our bees decided to swarm. For us it was not as dire as it may seem. After all, Andre had much help from our dear friend and bee expert, Claude. And Phillip spent a good part of the day Saturday retrieving the bees up in a ladder. The bees tried to swarm a total of four times.
This got me to reflecting on how we as people are so much like the bees. God says one thing. We do another. We try to stay peaceful and faithful but so many times we just leave the hive for some better alternative. The bees know what is best for them....so you think. But, not necessarily so. We have lost many hives over these past couple of years. The bees have just up and left for no "apparent" reason. Yes, we may think we know best. That we can take control. But really what control do WE have over anything on this earth?
Our hope is in the Lord who made heaven and earth...and that is the simple truth! In the Baltimore Catechism No. 2 question two it states:
2. Who is God?
God is the Supreme Being, infinitely perfect, who made all things and keeps them in existence.
There you have it in plain terms. Who God is and that he keeps us in existence! Now we can breathe a sigh of relief. For the burden does not fall on us but on Him who made us!
Yes...the simple things in life is where we find God. A look on your child's face, the way the trees move with the wind, a kind or thoughtful word from a friend.
Last evening at prayer time with our family (no, we don't do this every night but would love to and praying hard that this comes about in a more frequent manner), we as a family reflected on the simple things in life. How God prepares you in baby steps. The boys were so cute in sharing how they would feel nervous or overwhelmed in their guitar or piano class at Bennington Music school a few years back. Forrest said he almost at times felt panicked before his guitar lessons. We were giggling and joking about it. But really everything that we experience and our reaction to that experience is relative to our previous exposure, practical knowledge, and understanding of that very thing!
We reflected on the very beauty of many of our outdoor Vermont adventures. Andre has always been an animal lover and when he lost his first pet, a fish, he lamented like no other child I had ever seen. And since then has grown to understand the way of nature and of animals due to his experience with his chickens and bees.
Lily Ann and Molly were shy when they were younger. You couldn't get Lily to sing let alone get up on stage. We heard her little voice singing when she was four but she never would sing in front of anyone until last spring. And now when Lily and Molly perform, you can't get them off of the stage...you have to give them the hook!
When did these changes come about?
For me it appears to be seamless. It must be in those simple moments when our biggest growth happens. And if we can walk in our faith more simply, then we can and will grow in our relationship with the One who created us. Maybe it is one simple catechism question to reflect upon per week or one little paragraph of the Bible read before bedtime. Last night I really wanted our family to say the Rosary together but everyone was so tired! I knew it. We prayed the Apostle's Creed, three Hail Mary's for the increase of faith,hope, and charity in our lives. We prayed for the world, for Bishop Method who visited our church from Africa and for all those in need in Tanzania, we prayed for priests, our Pope, for the needs of family and friends, and for our own needs. We read from the Bible a couple of paragraphs. Reflected on our lives and what we need to do in the future to be better people. Maybe those simple prayers and reflections are what our dear Lord wanted from us at that moment.
May you feel peace and enjoy the simple things in life today!
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