The Letterboxing Bug

Have you caught the bug, yet? It’s catching. It’s such a fun family activity but I’m wondering it might be better if I just take one or two at a time just to have some get-to-know-you- better adventure time. I’ll let you know if I try that. It was a hot one though. As we were dragging our youngins all over Glen Miller Park, sweating and searching, the thought occurred to me that, though we were wearing out fast, we were having fun! Why is that? It was work! But we were on a mission. We were together, enjoying each others company. We stopped for serendipitous events such as a visit from ducks, one the kids named “Darth Maul Duck” due to his, um, attractive and colorful facial features. The day made me think of being in the “heat of the moment” when trials hit and the refining fire is cranked up hot. My nature is to grit my teeth and muddle through but that’s not living victoriously. There is joy in the mission – just ask Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego. When you’re going through “it”, as we have over the course of the past year and a half, looking toward THE GOAL gives us a vision, a purpose for the junk we’re going through.

Looking for those Letterboxes gave us a purpose for enduring the heat. It didn’t seem as hot though we did not take for granted the breeze or shade. If we had been there just to be there, we would have gone home. But we had a treasure to find! God provided the breeze and the trees for shade. We also went prepared with water, lunch, and sunblock. So it is with trials that come. God has told us in His Word that the trials WILL come and how to be ready. He has also told us there is great reward for those who overcome. We have directions to follow, an end result, relief from the heat at just the right time so we can keep on, and the thrill of having reached the prize.

I’m so spoiled with AC but I don’t grumble about humidity near as much as I use to.
I’ve learned to be grateful for the area I live in; one of the pay-offs for those “85 with a heat index of 105” days is we have seasons here. I enjoy having all 4 seasons. I heard someone say, though, that we have 3 seasons: fall, winter, and construction. ;o) That being said, our fun day of treasure hunting made me think of all the heat I’ve been through on my adventure with Jesus. I use to grumble and whine a lot more than I do now about those times God raised the “heat index.” I still complain, don’t get me wrong. Old habits die hard. I wish I was one of those people that never complain but I’m not. I’m trying , though! That being said, I am learning to endure the refining heat without fighting it and know that the pay-off is there are the other seasons. My favorite season is autumn which, of course, follows the hot & humid days. The crisp air, the colors, the sunsets… the beauty is there because we endured the summer for a time. There’s something about fall that’s conducive to learning, exploring, and just taking walks. It’s sort of like that relief in the air after a storm. The rain was needed but, boy, did those clouds look scary! Whew, that was tornado weather! Summer gives in to the relief of autumn and so it is with trials. If we are wise we take our time after the season of heat and take a walk to contemplate how God wants us to grow, what He wants us to change, and just give thanks.