Stages

Pictures. I have a number of aerial pictures of my in-laws house and surrounding area. The progression from those early pictures to the later photos are quite stark. There are several different buildings--old ones removed, new ones added, a smaller house and a progression of additions. The 'sun porch' at the back of the house was named that for a reason, but now it sits comfortably in the shade of a large maple tree.

When they purchased the farm there was a farm house here, which they tore down in order to build this present structure. As far as I know there are no pictures of the original house, nor how the original buildings lay at the time of purchase. Even without them we still see quite a progression of changes throughout the years. 

 This morning the boys are loading some cattle to go to the sale barn and I'm sitting on the deck watching.  I have my Bible and a cup of coffee to occupy the moments when things are quiet at the loading chute.It's a beautiful morning. The temperatures are pleasant, pleasant sunshine, maybe just a touch on the lively side of a breeze. I'm hindered in my scope of vision by the lush growth of tree leaves, and reminded of those early pictures and their lack of anything but the bare minimum of ground cover.

"All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us." (Ecclesiastes 1:8-10 ASV)

Our lives are like the pictures in the photograph album, starting small and progressing along. Yesterday, so it seems we were sitting in the high chair with our head leaning toward our lunch, next is our school days with friends, family, and accomplishments. No matter where you are on your path there are common links through the stages of life.

One of my favorite Bible class lesson stories is called, 'Madge Learns to Listen'. It must be upteen million years old, and I've used it on a number of classes . It begins with a little girl (named Madge, of course) who is upset because 'no one ever listens to me'. Her Bible class teacher uses this to teach all of her little people the lesson that listening is a two way experience. When we learn to listen to those around us, we find that others that we come in contact with on a daily basis are more responsive to listening to us. And blessing of blessings we learn to be more attentive in listening to God.

I am visiting with a parent. Her ten year old girl is working with yarn and a crochet hook. I suspect the youngster believes she's doing something, but being an old hand at crocheting, I also suspect she is just diddling. During a lull in the conversation I question the youngster. She passes the item to me to examine, and indeed, informs me, she is making a blanket. I know that my words will fall on deaf ears, however, I tell her she may some day have a collar, but will never have a blanket. I continue, 'if you would like I can show you how to do this, or if you are content with what you are doing I will just give it back'. She was content to just diddle, so I gave it back. I guess there is something to say for being content.

One of the frustrations between generations is the lack of listening. We do have a generation gap today, and the main reason is too many people are in too big of a hurry to get nowhere. We all have instances of diddling, but should not be content to diddle our time away. Of course one of the sad things in life is younger people thinking that they don't need to listen to old farts. If we teach our youngsters to listen when they are young they are more likely to listen as they mature. As the old adage goes: Those who will not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. And so it goes, "That which hath been is that which shall be...there is nothing new under the sun."

Hallelujah! What a Savior!