Be Still

I have been slow to create at the keyboard. The reason for that is not exhaustion or illness, but the advent of a beautiful warm and early spring. Last week the screen room (an absolute necessity in the north) was roofed for the summer and much needed repairs were completed with the help of a neighbour. We and any visitors to our home spend many hours in what becomes an extension of our house in the fair weather. This week the swimming pool was placed into summer service. This is the first year I can remember that the weather was warm enough to even contemplate pool installation so early in the spring. It is a huge job to clear the cover of debris and remove it for further cleaning and drying on the lawn. The pool is then refilled and the pump and peripherals installed. The solar heater pipes caused an afternoon of work and frustration until the faulty valves were isolated, removed and replaced. This work was also made possible with the now necessary and appreciated assistance of our neighbour. The pool water, even now as I write, is turning from murky brown to clear blue as the filtration and chlorine systems become effective. Our outside furniture is all in place.

The beauty of nature waking up for the summer has been quite simply stunning. In the past week, we have observed on two occasions a moose grazing at the bank of the far side of our bay. She is a majestic and huge creature that we welcome to our home. Our beavers that live just up the lake shore swim by our dock carrying saplings in their teeth just close enough to send Marley, our English Springer Spaniel into a frenzy. The ducks are doing their procreation thing right in front of the house and the indeed have taken to wandering around on our front lawn in male and female pairs. For some reason, Marley does not react to them with her past enthusiasm. She seems to recognize them as old friends. The red squirrels are using our deck rails as a route to the trees to the west of the house. Rabbits are hopping across the back lawn and down the driveway. The most majestic pair on the lake are our loons that we rarely see, but regularly hear. Very early before dawn this morning, I heard them calling to each other. What a beautiful and faith reaffirming sound! This morning I am quite simply in awe of the warm sunny weather and with the creations of our Lord. Two verses of Psalm 46 keep going through my head.

10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

(Comments, corrections, suggestions or rebuttals are welcome. My email link is contained in “About me: view my complete profile” to the right of this page or use the comment section below which requires that you have a Google account.)