Fearless Faith

There are moments in many of our lives that, upon reflection, lead us to conclude that we simply were in the right place at the right time for whatever transpired. It’s important to distinguish such moments from the rest of the day for they are often what sustain us as we manage this thing called life.

Somedays it is an early sunrise or the trill of Sandhill cranes overhead that captures our attention. In other moments it constitutes a chance meeting of old friends or that short chat in the middle of the gravel road, engines off and not another person in sight. It might be discovered in exaggerated shadows of early morning or enthusiastic greetings by the coffee shop crew as critical information (gossip) kicks off the day’s schedule. It is present in kind words of courtesy that are too seldom spoken, or the initial exuberance of the dogs each morning acting as if it had been years since they last saw us. It is the fragrance of the Austrian pines on a crisp fall morning, the meadow lark preaching atop the power pole, or the impatient nickering of the horse as she demands her feed bucket. Each person has their list of similar happenstance that results in a bit more bounce to their gait accompanied by a knowing smile or two.

Through the good graces and patience of a nearby neighbor, as well as several others who offered valuable assistance and advice, an old windmill tower and head was erected as part of the permaculture landscape, a nod to its origins from a family farm in the grasslands of north central Kansas. Somedays it represents little more than a cultural artifact, but then there are instances where it appears to have always belonged in concert with the backdrop of trees and sky. Those moments are somewhat fleeting, some days barely noticeable. And yet they are there for the taking, a reminder that there is room in our schedules to pause, if only for a moment, to gather ourselves in preparation of the day.

When we get in too big of a hurry to be about the work of the church, we often miss the subtleties of divine expression represented in people and in the surrounding environment. In our zeal to implement an all-encompassing mandate of bringing people to Christ — a debatable position by the way — we miss out on nuances of faith that keep us both focused and grounded. If what we are after is to please God by putting another notch in our belts for every baptism, christening, or altar call, then it is time to rethink our role in the divine plan. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matt 6:26)

Sometimes it is enough to simply be, to celebrate the smallest of things that warm our souls and inspire us with the hope of tomorrow. Even Christ had the good sense to seek solitude in response to demands on his person and his time that overwhelmed. Can we not do the same? The windmill that was restored warms the soul. It might be more than we can ask.