Many of you know and have read about our lives when we lived in Ignacio, Colorado. I had a deep love for the mountains and its spectacular grandeur. One of my fondest memories was waking up in the morning and walking into the living room of our "A" framed house and seeing the La Plata Mountains capped with snow. The living room in this two story house was glass on three sides from the top story ceiling to the top edge of our sofa that sat on the bottom floor. If you wanted to see breath taking beauty it could be found at that very location. It was always an awesome experience to place visitors upstairs and listen to them wake up the next morning.
One of the other spectacular things about living in the Pine River Valley was the wonderful people. The Guffeys, Faverino's, Witts and Klusmans all lived on ranches and farms filled with excitement and wonder. Each summer the Faverino's would move their cattle up to Missionary Ridge outside of Durango for better grazing, making the cattle healthier and richer in quality for the sale. This event was not an easy one, but the Faverino's knew that it was the best thing for the cattle.
For some reason this thought was on my mind as I woke up this morning in a motel room in Weatherford Texas. Asking the Lord why I would wake up with this thought, he began to show me.
I myself am like the cattle the Faverino's owned. My feet do not want to climb the steep terrain. My nature is to resist and cry out. It would be so much easier to go back to the flat land where it doesn't hurt my feet, thighs and only the Lord knows what all is hurting after spending three days packing and moving. My surrounding is unfamiliar and there is more danger in the area where the Lord is sending me. It's easier to balk at things when we are entering new territory, especially if you are a female who likes to have things on a schedule, know what is ahead or just want to live in total security, like myself.
During the process of getting the cattle up this spectacular mountain in the spring and back down the mountain in the fall came the wonderful times when a few of the cattle would break loose from the herd into a field of alfalfa. To the cattle this grass looked rich and full of nutrients. To the rancher this grass meant disaster. When this occurred Glenn would have to break several on the team loose, round up the straying herd and if the cattle had eaten the alfalfa it meant inserting a knife into the side of the animal and running a water hose into its belly, in order to relieve the gas build up.
The Lord is seeing the total picture and he obviously knows that this climb up the ridge is one that will make me stronger, give me the nourishment that I must be needing, and cause my writings to become richer and more fulfilling. He must know my heart was needing something I was unaware of. We can't experience all the Lord has in store for us unless we let go and allow the Lord to lead us where he desires, to place our feet on the ground he wants for us to tread, to fill us with the riches of his love and grace.
The alfalfa fields are out there but the shepherd will be there to lead and guide. He has his staff ever ready to draw us back into the fold and take care of the bumps and bruises we obtain on this adventure. Knowing this, I must allow my father to lead me to the path he knows is best for my life, help me to make the climb, and know he is there each step of the way.
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (Psalm 32:8)
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