Hello, God. It's me, Mara

You know, Lord, here’s a thought about the Wilderness, the Boondocks and the Backcountry. While we’re all busy traveling life’s demanding way, we can’t help but notice where the forest fires have ravaged the countryside; we notice that there are no lovely flowers, we see dead pine and fir trees, we also see a few other trees that are just standing there with lifeless limbs outstretched for help.

However, we look around — there is no help — no birds — no green grass, it’s all been consumed, all that is left is charred, forlorn and exposed. It feels like hopelessness and depression — just like people sometimes feel: it’s all black and nothingness.

Oh, but look, green grass grows on the very next hill; it is tall and waving in the gentle breeze. Seedlings and young trees are there for us to see as well as some tall trees of several species. We hear the birds singing as they dart about; we watch them as we’re traveling through. Here is life.

The forest, on a hot day, is like air-conditioning; on a windy day, it is shelter.  Look, there is a meadow and it is full of lovely wildflowers that perfume the spring/summer air.

Please help us, Lord, as the wilderness, the boondocks is not a fun place to walk through. As we’re “traveling along” on this day, we could say with the psalmist from Psalm 109:22-28 (in part): “I am slipping down the hill to death; I am shaken off from life as easily as a man brushes a grasshopper from his arm. … My knees are weak from fasting … I am a symbol of failure to all mankind. …  Help me, O Lord my God! Save me because You are loving and kind. Do it publicly so that all will see that You Yourself have done it … .” 

Thank You, Lord

Love, Mara