Cacophony--what a great descriptor for a morning on a farm, dubbed Full Circle Ranch. Having left the bedroom door, that is off the screen porch, open throughout the night, I had great a.m. audio. Actually it was more like surround sound. Geese were honking, dogs barking, cows mooing (one seemed to be bellowing in pain) birds tweeting and there was a real fussing going on somewhere---not sure if it was birds or squirrels. Delightful farm music, not exactly “muzak.,” but delightful all the same. This is indeed a “day the Lord hath made” and I for one am “rejoicing in it.”
Wandering out to the porch alone, with Bible, Jesus Calling and a legal pad---somehow a laptop seemed like an anachronism, I took my seat on the big Cracker Barrel type rocker that over looked the horse pasture. The pasture, covered with buttercup weed and somewhat flooded from many days of soaking rains and Saturday night’s storm, gave real meaning to the term pastoral. There are six horses in my view, Most were brown (bays) but there was a splotchy spotted (paint or pinto) and one whitish one (palomino) and a red (roan)---Doris supplied the equine terms. What fun they were having in their morning frolic rearing up at one another and romping together---a real gamboling going on.
“I love you, Lord and I lift my voice, to worship you , O my soul, rejoice. Take joy, my king, in what You hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.” Not even sure the words were right but God knew my heart’s song.
Then, the meditation began to flow naturally. It’s Monday---my day for meditating, Did you notice that the meditation followed worship? I just saw that. The verse that I am meditating on is, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee because He trusteth in Thee.” (from memory, probably King James Version --- somewhere in Isaiah ---my limited concordance in the back of my Bible showed only one citation from Isaiah-- 9:6, and that’s not it. It was too early to call Buddy or Crickett so ya’ll are on your own---but I do know it is Isaiah)
Here’s what else I know about meditation---meditation on God’s word.
- It’s a holy exercise/discipline, of sorts---a pondering of His word. Being surrounded by cows this morning illustrates it well. They chew their cud, regurgitate it and chew some more---getting all the sweetness and nutrients needed for good health.
- Meditation is not hurried. Holiness and hurry may be alliterative but hurry is the antithesis of holy in the realm of spiritual rumination. (We mull over scripture verses---cows chew cud—sweet nourishment is end result for both)
- A mind is not just to be emptied without purpose---that can be dangerous. When we empty our minds for meditation, we need to fill it with God’s truth in order to further our understanding of Him and His Word. Keep your Bible at your fingertips.
- Precede meditation with prayer. Praying Psalm 119: 18 can be a way of seeking spiritual guidance as you seek Truth. “Open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from Thy law.” “Let my cry come before Thee O Lord, give me understanding according to Thy word.” (Psa. 119:169)
- For meditation to have real value it must be occupied with God and His truth.
Just as I finished jotting these notes, I was served a “cuppa” and some Walker’s shortbread, Le Petit Ecolier, and was joined by my friends (along with a resident bluebird) what a way to begin the day. I am indeed rejoicing…..but I’m still meditating.
