Glistening Silos

“If you would get a contented life, do not grasp too much of the world,do not take in more of the business of the world than God calls you to.”
― Jeremiah Burroughs

Glistening silos… it sounded so beautiful, so idyllic. I had to find this scenic view. Our life since entering ministry has involved a few moves. It was my goal each time to find the fun, the new, the exciting in the next place to help make the transition a bit easier (or if I am honest to avoid the aches). So I got the book of my new county and there was an amazing description of a vista about an hour or so from my new home. Perfect. This would be a great adventure. On top of that, two of our teens from our last church were visiting and we could all explore this new area and top it off with a breathtaking view of glistening silos. Kudos to that writer to entice me in such a way that motivated such action. We all piled into my temperamental van to find this overlook. The hour or so landed on the longer side. There were questionable roads and confused GPS directions, but we finally made it to a little park, at the top of a hill that looked out on farm land… farm land that looked very familiar to the farm land we had left over an hour ago, with silos that had a familiar look to them.  With anticlimactic feelings, we jumped back in the van and headed down a sketchy, hilly, dirt road back into town. We managed to find a great ice cream stand that made that epic waste of a trip into something somewhat worthwhile.

If I am honest I have done this with books that would be just the right info to help that person see the light, or just the right curriculum to help my child become excited about learning again or …. the list goes on and on. I am suckered in by a great description and wonderful promise or an ideal hope. I get busy chasing these things. At times the adventure might be fun but I miss it. I miss what is right in front of me. I miss peace and contentment because I have found that as I chase the elusive, I become discontent with what I have and missed the good that already exists, or get distracted and forget to listen to God who knows me and actually knows what would bring me peace.

“Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.”
― Jeremiah Burroughs

The glistening silo story has become one of those oh’ mom stories, but for me it has become a deep reminder to look around to what is before me. To make sure I am entering into deep gratitude before I go chasing after the next great thing. As we explored the hills, literally in my backyard after that, we found great views and vistas of glistening silos, rivers, and more. I grew to love what was right there and chose to embrace the gifts given and not chase what seemed desirable. Still working on applying it, but thankfully I am chasing the wind much less and adventuring for the sake of adventure, and less for the sake of escape.

*both photos were taken up the hill that I would walk up daily once I started paying attention and counting the gifts already given. Thankful that God’s mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness

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