“Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden . . . For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”
Matthew 11:28-30
| Take me Back…. |
Often we will purposely desert the Interstates for the back roads; for we find that real people seldom live in the rest areas, though we have found a few there. Our desire is to find America and her people where they live, and where they reveal themselves. We are looking for people, as much as we are looking for places. God will reveal them, if we take the time to look. On this particular day we did just that.
With my work completed for this trip, we found ourselves with “left over time,” a rare thing for us, but a treasure waiting to be used. And, since we were in rural Arkansas, we set off to see what was around the corner.
“Take me back to where clothes still hang on a line,” Mary said from the passenger’s seat. With a far-away look in her eye she continued, “Lets go where rocking chairs still sit on the porches and folks still wave as you drive by.” So off we went.
With no direction in mind, we followed each road further into the woods, until late in the day we had traveled into another world. Rural America still exists – if you are patient enough to search it out.
There suddenly, in a clearing almost invisible from the road, sat an old country church. Its belfry was freshly painted and the grass neatly trimmed. Miles from a busy city, it served a very important mission to the quiet people who lived nearby; calling them to God.
Nobody was about that afternoon, the grass covered parking area was empty, the birds and the slowly setting sun the only ones aware of our visit. The door was unlocked and beckoned, so we entered His house. He was there to welcome us, His presence felt by the very stillness in the air. And it seemed as if the spirits of generations of worshipers had also gathered there that afternoon. The quiet itself spoke of reverence. The old piano in the corner had probably played, “Shall we Gather at the River,” a thousand times. Hundreds had certainly walked those aisles from salvation to sainthood, lifetimes played out while angels watched.
What a sacred and special place He had led us to that day. A place where our ‘left over time’ had became rich with His blessings.
We found it very difficult to leave that place as dusk closed in. But other things and other places were calling. It seemed, however, that from somewhere nearby, silent voices could be heard very softly singing over the soft and gentle caress of the evening breeze.
“Come home, come home,” an unseen choir sang, “ye who are weary come home.”
Thank you, Lord, for your presence this day. Keep me mindful of what is really important in this life.
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