sunset – Page 2 – Skelton Sketches

…and behold, it was very good

Posted on November 20, 2013April 29, 2017 by lindaskelton

On Sunday afternoon we took a mountain bike jaunt over to what we call the “Tiny Town” overlook . It’s been such a long time.

The bears have sort of taken over this area so I’ve stayed away. But as the cooler weather comes they seem to retreat…so we ventured forth.

Speaking of cooler weather… This poor old fly has been grounded by the cold, reduced to creeping and hopping his days away. .

But he certainly does have a splendid place to do it!

Meanwhile the Paper Mill hums away down below…It is the reason our town exists, so we don’t mind…

Once the largest pulp and paper mill in the world, it has dwindled to a fraction of its former glory. But still the chips come in (the pale ones for paper pulp, the dark ones for fuel to make steam and to generate power)… and every third day a barge full of paper ships out… while “The Hulks” (abandoned concrete ships) do breakwater duty…

I can just imagine God surveying His creation from such a vantage point…

…and declaring it ‘very good’!

We agree!

–LS

“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.” Gen.1:31; 2:1

Plants yielding seed

Posted on November 15, 2012April 30, 2017 by lindaskelton

The evenings are longer now. Sweet opportunity to sit by the fire listening to books on tape and shelling beans for next spring’s planting…I love the finished product—this year mixed varieties, but each with its characteristic shape and color. And I’ve been reflecting on this idea of bearing fruit—not just summer’s ripe off-the-tree or vine edible product, but the latent seed for future generations of fruit. Latent fruitfulness, each after its kind…This is a wonderful design.

Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed,

and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed,

each according to its kind, on the earth. And it was so.

The outer blemish and imperfection of this forgotten last-apple-of-summer matters not to the seed which has every potential to grow to be an outstanding tree bearing a bounty of beautiful apples…

You shall have them for food.

And God saw that it was good.

And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

Unless a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone…

but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Jn.12:24

Take up your cross and follow me…

At this time of year, as living things give away their life energies to nourish the next generation of growing things, I am reminded that what looks like death, or a fading finish, or an insignificant old pod, bears the seeds of a new creation. All is not lost.

What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.I Cor.15:36

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. II Cor.4:10,11

May the One who ‘supplies seed to the sower and bread for food… supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.’ (II Cor.9:10)

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. I Cor.15:58

–LS

We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us…II Cor.4:7

Opportunity…

Posted on March 30, 2012April 27, 2017 by lindaskelton

“I’m heading out to the boat.”

It was Friday afternoon. School was finished for another week. Friday’s blog was posted. Jim came in the door announcing that there was a bit of wind and he was going for a sail… My moment of opportunity. This happens every so often. I generally bid him farewell and ‘please don’t drown’ and stay home quite content—warm and dry in my little ‘pumpkin shell’… But today I took a gamble on staying warm, piled on as many layers as I could creatively and comfortably handle and sallied out the door with my favorite person in the whole wide world…

Beneath sunny skies we sailed out of harbor over the glinting seas—relishing a precious opportunity to just be together. Talking or quiet–(I often read)—it doesn’t much matter, chill breeze brushing our faces but toasty warm inside…together.

The Ragged Islands are our favorite all-time destination. They are close at hand and always a delight.

We anchored and climbed up the bluffs to survey our peaceful kingdom…

The manzanita bushes are festooned with their delicate pink bells, calling all the bees to wake and feast. The buzzing of spring has come.

We rambled and clambered exploring a while. We shed layers and napped in the sun’s sleepy warmth on a bluff face… till the sun began slipping into the treetops, casting shadows on our warmth and it was time to bundle up for the bracing voyage home…

The boat tucked safely in its berth, lines secured, we trudged up the hill to where we’d parked—but not without turning around a moment to watch the sun set across the water…

A fitting close to a beautiful day.

Hallelujahs by Chris Rice is a fitting benediction.

All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. Ps.145:10

–LS