Walks with Barry - Profoundly Simple: A Walk Reframed

  The sun had finally returned after four days of ice and rain. The temperatures climbed into the 50’s and the neighborhood came alive once again. Children were outside playing. Parents were catching up on the latest happenings. It was great to be outdoors for a few minutes and not be bundled up against the arctic cold or trying not to fall on the ice. As I walked along the sidewalk, I noticed this ball stuck in the storm drain. It was in plain sight and appeared that it could be easily rescued. I wondered why it was left there. Surely it got there as a couple of children were playing with it, laughing and having fun. What could possibly make them just walk away and leave their toy? It seemed such a waste when the ball could so easily be reclaimed. When I was a child, our preacher told the story of a little boy who worked hard building a toy boat to play with on the lake near his home. He finally finished and was enjoying a day of watching it on the water when the wind came up and ble

  These two ladders were put out on the curb to be picked up by the city. I seriously doubt that they lasted until the truck came by the next morning. There was clearly some life left in them and someone who drove down the street in a pick up truck would certainly snatch them away. I am sure that would have made the old owners of the ladders very happy. When I was a boy, I would help my dad paint our house every couple of years. Well, I’m not sure how much help I was to him in the process. I should probably say I hung around under foot while he painted the house. Constantly talking and asking questions, I look back and laugh at how that must have tried my introverted father’s patience. But I loved it - he was a captive audience while up on the ladder. One of my favorite stories from the Bible was the story of Jacob’s dream of a ladder that went from earth up to heaven. We would read the story and then sing the song about climbing that ladder ourselves. Some of the phrases in the lyrics

  As the weather continues to fluctuate between 80 degrees and ice storms every so often, I stumbled upon this image that captures the situation well. A dormant lawn, a leafless tree and fresh growth from bulbs buried in the flower bed - all together in one small space. Spring and Winter. New life amidst the barrenness of the season. The future emerging from the past. As I write, the frigid cold and ice have returned. Schools are closed once again. Much of the usual mad rush of everyday life will find a slower pace for the early morning. But, once again, we are reminded that all the while new growth is coming. Regardless of appearances. Regardless of circumstances. The cycle never stops. My favorite Affirmation of Faith to use in worship contains the line, “We believe in God, who has created and is creating.” Creation is not all in the past tense. Creation is an ongoing work, of which we are a part. In fact, we are given the gift to be able to join in the work of creation. What will we

  Have you ever had the feeling that you are being watched, perhaps in a store while shopping or someplace in a crowd? It is a strange feeling, is it not? When I was a boy growing up, I spent as much of my time as possible in the woods behind our house. I had different trails to walk and different spots of interest that I visited over and over again across the years. I was comfortable and at home there, whether by myself or with a friend. But I remember once when things were different. It was after school and I had headed to the woods for a while until my daddy came home from work and my family sat down together for supper. I followed the trail for a bit, enjoying the different birds and keeping an eye out for any changes in my little kingdom. But something seemed a little off. I had the feeling someone else was out there. I could not see anyone. I could not hear anyone. But I felt someone was watching me. I began to be afraid, and soon I was racing as fast as I could through the woods

  The day began Sunday morning with this beautifully painted sky. There is nothing quite as beautiful as that moment when the darkness of night gives way to the light of day. As a boy, that was my favorite aspect of camping or hunting or fishing. I never minded the early wake up call. A sight such as this would make the day worth it, no matter what else happened. A few moments of a beautiful sunrise and time with my friends were enough. By Monday evening there were severe thunderstorms with high winds and hail in the area. In some communities, warning sirens went off in the early morning hours. This morning will be greeted with dark clouds and rainy skies. Quite the change. The cold arctic air returns soon. The winter clothes will come back out. Cars will need to be washed again. The heater will fire up. And life goes on. We read in Hosea, “Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water

  As I walked along on this sunny, 70 degree afternoon, people were out and about. Shorts and shirt sleeves had finally made a return appearance to the sidewalks of the wonderful old neighborhood. I passed little boys with fishing poles heading to the creek, voices full of excitement. Everything seemed to say that Winter had passed and Spring was already making its way into the world. But then there was this home. Neat as a pin, the owners had obviously cleaned up from the winds and snow and ice of the past weeks. But they had also replaced the plastic sheeting they had cut and placed over their front flower beds. Even this was pristine and perfect. On a street where everyone appeared to be moving on, this home clearly thinks something else is coming. They seem to believe Winter is not over. They are still prepared for heavy frosts and beyond. A look at the long range forecast shed light on this situation. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday temperatures fall once again into the 20’s. There

  For some reason, I found myself surrounded by color in the middle of winter. It could have been that the sun was at just the precise angle to illuminate the scene, but I noticed for the first time the beautiful red bushes that line the front of the building. How could it be that I missed seeing them day after day? I can think of a few reasons. It is not hard to believe that I can be so in my head at times that I am oblivious to what is happening around me. I could have been returning calls or reading emails on my phone as I passed by on the sidewalk. My eyes and attention could have been to the other side of the driveway where a new building is being completed. For whatever reasons, I missed this beautiful sight day after day. We can miss seeing things of great importance and significance if we allow ourselves to be constantly distracted. Yes, we can miss the beauty of the world around us. But we can also miss seeing people who both need to be seen and that we need to see. We can mis

  As I walked, I approached the main buildings of the church from a new direction. And am I glad I did! The view was wonderful. The bright blue sky. The cross rising out of the trees. The image appeared to me as a comforting sign that all would be well. A new day bringing new opportunities. Fair weather after the storms. Sunshine after the snow and ice. Joy in a new day. Each day is an opportunity to see and experience life in new ways. Things will not stay the same as they have been, whether for good or ill. We do not have to stay the same as we have been. We can choose to be people who grow and learn, who fail and try again, who find joy and beauty in each other and in our world. We read in the letter to the Philippians, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true,

  Our church is blessed to gather on a beautiful piece of property where our buildings are surrounded by trees. During the recent ice storm, the trees were especially beautiful, glistening in a coat of ice that reflected the light in dreamlike ways. I was not the only one, I am certain, who took pictures of the unusual Christmas card scene. The downside to the beauty of it all was that the thick coating of ice was heavy. When the winds blew, limbs could easily break and come down. That was the case with this tree. Before the temperatures warmed and the ice melted, a limb snapped and twisted in a gust of wind. A faithful church member sawed off the limb and hauled it away. I doubt anyone else will notice the missing limb or the fresh trimming. The tree is still a tree, pruned, yet still beautiful. Life goes on. Our lives are in a constant process of pruning and trimming. Sometimes it comes by necessity, when we are broken by the storms that come our way. Sometimes it comes through the i

  When the snow and ice had passed and the sunshine brought the clean up of yards and gardens, things appeared so bare and empty. The little garden outside the back door to my office is all dried out and picked up. A few green plants have hung in through the winter storm and eagerly await the coming of Spring. The bird bath is dry, and the birds are silent. For the moment. Only for the moment. Soon things will change. As the days grow longer and temperatures climb, life will seem to burst forth once again. There will be flowers to enjoy, and weeds to pull. There will be lush lawns, and grass to mow. There will be lots and lots of sunshine, and high electricity and water bills. Every season brings its own joys. Every season brings its own challenges. And every season brings glimpses of its own beauty. The challenge is to find patience and perspective as our lives move through season after season. There is so much we cannot expect. Life is full of surprises, some good and some bad. But w

  As I sat on my couch and looked out through the glass doors, my attention was captured by this image that appeared as waves washing ashore on a white sand beach. From snow to sunbathing in one day! But that was only in the imagination. What I saw was the sun reflecting off the pool onto the underside of the covering over the deck. It was mesmerizing for a moment, but then reality set in. But, for that moment, it was a little like a vacation trip to the beach. The imagination is a powerful thing. I remember as a boy playing for hours pretending to be any number of different people. I was Loyd Bridges, diving in deep water on the television show “Sea Hunt”. At other times I was a war hero, fighting bravely as my father had in World War II. Sometimes I was my favorite University of Arkansas football player. I took more than one flight into space as an astronaut in the early years of the space program. My imagination was vivid and adventurous. It was so much fun to imagine. But, no matte

  On this bright, sunny day, I came upon a yard that seemed to be all about sports and activity. There was a swing in the tall oak tree. There was a basketball goal in the driveway. And at the curb was stacked a discarded climbing wall. Everything about this scene spoke of energy and youth and fun. But there was something striking about the discarded climbing wall. The time for its place in the world of this family had passed. Whether the children had outgrown it or the wooden structure had succumbed to time and the elements, I will never know. Perhaps a new and better version of it stood in the backyard. Perhaps it was replaced with something even more fun and more challenging for the children as they are today. The philosopher writes in Ecclesiastes, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” We do not know all we want to know about life and death and t

  As the last remnants of the winter storm hold fast to the shady spots here and there in yards and on the streets, this family decided to make a statement. This yellow smiley face shines like a beacon across the block. Against the melting snow and drab landscape, this face radiates like a sun. And, as over used as the smiley face may have been for these many years, one cannot help but smile when it comes into our life. At least that is true for me. This encounter held an extra joy. The photo captured a reflection in the window. From the backside, the smiley face appears to my eye as a sun, rising with the promise of a new day with new opportunities and new hope. I must say, that image added to my smile. We read in the Book of Proverbs, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” We do not have to rack up too many birthdays to know the truth of this wise saying. The good news is that we can share this “good medicine” freely to one and all throughout each

  I always find the landscape to seem so stark when the snow melts away. There are no flowers to add their joy and color. The lawns are dormant and brown. All leaves are gone from the trees. The planet looks so lifeless and forlorn. This bare tree captured my attention. Standing against a sky of brilliant blue, it was clear that this tree held no outward sign of life. It looked dead, a collection of brittle sticks that appeared fragile and without hope. How could this tree possibly live again? Yet I know that in a few months it will be green and growing and beautiful once again. It brought to mind the great story from the prophet Ezekiel. Looking at a valley of dry bones, he has an experience with God. “He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will

  The freezing rain, sleet and snow finally stopped. The temperatures remained cold, but the Texas sun returned. After a couple of days of sunshine, the streets and sidewalks cleared, except for the random shady spot here and there that remained tricky and treacherous. Restaurants and other businesses reopened and traffic returned to normal. In my neighborhood, there ended up being much more ice than snow. So, as I walked the streets, I was surprised to see this lone snowman. It was still standing tall - well, not tall, it is a snowman of small stature - as all the snow and ice around it disappears. Carrot nose still in place. A scarf around the neck to keep it warm. Standing in the sun, casting a long shadow, this snowman looked a bit lonely. It also struck me that it was hard to tell from this image whether the snowman appears to be melting down or rising up. From one perspective, the wet pavement could be the source of its life; from another perspective, a sign of the end. Much in l

  As I walk to the east edge of my neighborhood, I love to see the water tower rising on the horizon. The sight of it brings to mind an alien ship arriving from space. (This is the result of too many bad science fiction movies made in the 1950’s and 1960’s.) But on this cold but sunny day, the view provided a perfect snapshot of the change in weather. The empty parking lot is divided between the section in the sun and the section that remained in the shade. It is almost as if this photograph captures two seasons in one moment, Spring and Winter. Spring, with its puddles from a morning shower, and Winter with its ice and snow. As I look at the image, I can’t decide if it looks warm or cold, more Spring or more Winter. Life can feel this way at times. We can feel to have one foot in the sunshine of blessing and the other in the mud of struggle. In one day we can find ourselves strong in faith and struggling with doubt. We can know the struggle of watching someone we love as they know tha

  The winter storm arrived with pouring rains that seemed more like Spring than Winter. As the temperature dropped, the simple rain turned to freezing rain. Then the freezing rain turned to sleet. The next morning saw the sleet turn to snow. The result was beautiful, even if it brought most traffic and business to a standstill. Trees and bushes appeared as if carved from crystal, perfectly coated with the lasting effects of the freezing rain. The layer of snow served to even out the landscape, erasing the boundaries between sidewalks and lawns. For a moment, between the end of the storm and the slow return to business as usual, the world seemed perfect. Stark and clean in the grey light of the overcast sky, all seemed well. One could not help but think that, perhaps, the world was getting a fresh start. The prophet Isaiah writes, “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they sh

  As I awaken to a cold morning of sleet and snow, I couldn’t help but wonder about a picture I took a couple of days ago. I’m always intrigued when I come across random bits of clothing as I walk through my life. The first question that comes to my mind is simple: “How does the person not know they lost this?” A pair of glasses here. A random sock there. A lone shoe. A pair of pants. It appears that someone had left one glove on the playground after an active time of fun and play. As the cold air greeted me this morning, I imagined the search that will ensue when they need to venture out into the winter storm. Suddenly the unnoticed lost glove will be of primary importance. Every coat pocket will be searched. The car will be inspected. I have no doubt that the lost glove will finally be missed. At different times in our lives, priorities change and we come to value things differently. Things to which we gave little thought become important, while things we thought were crucial fade aw

This photograph captures what I call the “time in between”. It is the time in between day and night. It is the time in between a warm front and a cold front. It is the time in between work and rest. It is the time in between big events in my work life. Our lives are full of in between times. I watch the children in my life from week to week as they grow and develop. As little ones, they spend time in between crawling and walking. Later, as they are big, they spend time in between acting like a child and a teenager. For a while they are in between being dependent on parents for transportation and driving themselves. Then they are in between high school and college. And on it goes. We never outgrow being in between, and this is especially true in the spiritual sense of things. We are in between believing and knowing. We are in between who we were and who we are becoming. We are in between living the world’s way and living God’s way. But the good news is that we are not alone. God walks w

  Everyone is out and about these days because the weather has warmed and there is a window of a couple of nice days before the cold returns. I imagine that, as is the case for me, there is much thinking going on as people walk. Even as they walk their dogs or listen to music, minds are churning. Lists of tasks are reviewed. Prayers are offered. Plans made. Decisions are pondered. As I came upon a grouping of playground equipment, I noticed this station. Climb the stairs and spin the wheel. Go forward. Go back. Stop and wait for another turn. There are times when I wish there was such a place that adults could visit and find help with tough decisions. Sometimes just a little help would be nice. Just a little guidance. Just a little nudge in the right direction. The Psalmist writes, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” God is with us, nudging and guiding. Sometimes it is through the wise counsel of another. Sometimes it i