My husband and I had the opportunity to take a trip to a state which we had not ever visited recently. South Dakota has a beauty of its own. The Black Hills with a few pine trees, (which are not like Mississippi pines), were beautiful. The shrine to Democracy carved into the side of the mountain, better known as Mount Rushmore National Memorial, had us standing in awe. We visited an amazing landscape known as the Badlands National Park where jagged spines and pinnacles protruded from the earth. The Missouri River which bisects the state was a gorgeous site to behold. Spending the night at a lovely bed and breakfast in the middle of a cattle ranch was another highlight of our trip. However, I think riding through the farm roads and feasting our eyes on the beauty of the endless miles and miles of sunflower fields was probably my favorite site.
I loved how the sunflowers tracked the course of the sun throughout the day. The way they slowly turned to face the warm, brightness from east to west seemed like an act of adoration to the Creator of all these beautiful sites. I thought about how so many flowers fold their petals inward at night then open again with the sun and turn in its direction during the day.
Our hearts can be much like this. Sometimes we have darkness in our lives where we fold up and want to look inward away from where our help comes. But when we open to the “Son” and follow His directions our sin and sadness melts away as the great hymn goes,
“Hearts unfold like flowers before thee,
Opening to the sun above
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness
Fill us with the light of day.”
The clouds of sin and sadness can be melted away as we follow the “Son” so that the “giver of immortal gladness” can “fill us with the light of day”.
We have four more opportunities this year to help fill folks with this marvelous light. Barry Rhea will be leading Walk #351 beginning on September 8th. Peggy Yarbrough will lead Walk #352 which begins on September 15th . And then in October, we have Walk #353 which begins Oct. 6th and will be led by Steve Cummings and Walk #354 which begins on Oct. 13 and will be led by Sara Goldwater. Please be in prayer for these walks as they help encourage pilgrims to follow the one and only “Son” who is the “giver of gladness.”
DeColores,
Judy Smith
Community Chair 2022
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