Winter Illusion

Here in the Ozarks we have three seasons of beauty. Spring is, as I have described before, a luscious feast for the eyes. Summer bestows lush greenery and beautiful wet-weather creeks and waterfalls. It is not uncommon to drive down a busy street and glance off to the side to see a waterfall bubbling by the side of the road, or water cascading down a craggy rock face. And of course there are the lakes glistening in the sunlight. The lakes call to us with their serenity and the promise of a good time to be had. Fishing, water skiing, boating, or just sitting by the edge watching the waterfowl; the lakes offer a variety of entertainments.

Autumn is my favorite time of year। The leaves change almost daily, their subtle variations providing glorious ornamentation to the already beautiful landscape. I haven't painted in years, but each fall, the scenery beckons and I make my children and husband take photographs with the intention of capturing the rich tapestry of color on canvas. Every familiar sight becomes more interesting as Autumn paints it with the fabulous hues of the season.

But in contrast to the thrill the other seasons bring to my senses; I am not as enthusiastic about winter here in the Ozarks. To be fair, I don't like winter in general. I am not a fan of cold weather or snow or ice. I prefer temperatures in the 70's. I have lived in some very wintry places, and I do appreciate the beauty of the scenery clothed in glimmering snow and ice. And here in the Ozarks is no exception. When we get snow here, it is stunningly beautiful as well. The Cedar and Pine trees weighted down with a heavy wet snow and the calm untouched feeling of the landscape is breathtaking. But the problem is, we don't get much snow. If we do get winter precipitation it is usually in the form of treacherous ice. Ice that breaks power lines, leaving people without heat or electricity often for days. It is dangerous on our curvy and steeply pitched roads. It is, as I said, treacherous. Thankfully we don't get ice all the time either. It's not the cold and snow or even ice that makes winter unbearable.

How does the same landscape become so uninviting in the winter? The same features are there, but they are not appealing. The bleak expanse of familiar territory. The dull, lifeless terrain is devoid of color without a blanket of snow to hide it until spring.

That's how it seems in life sometimes। It seems as though it is winter, the weather is cold, but there is nothing beautiful to look at. There are great things you could do with a bit of snow; skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, sleighing, etc... but there is no snow. Day after day, of the same places and things. It seems as if it is one unending sequence of the same thing over and over.

But all the while; the earth is rotating and time is marching on. About the time we are resigned to winter for the rest of our lives; we begin to sense a change in the air. The days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter, the temperature is a bit warmer. Then we begin to see the visible signs of spring. It's that way with life in general. We feel that we are going through the motions, not making any progress at all. We are on a never ending treadmill. There is no escape from the mistakes of the past, the monotony of the present, no prospect of hope for the future. But just as natural spring comes in it's season bringing with it new growth; so we will suddenly experience a season of growth and the budding of new life if we don't give up.

We all experience times that seem dry and our senses tell us we are flying upside down. It seems as though we won't ever get on course. But if we are following the voice of God and are putting His word in our hearts, we can be assured that the bleak, wintry landscape is just an illusion and spring is just around the corner.

Fear Not!

As I look around me, I see so many people staggering at what they see in the news. I am not making light of their concern. Many people are experiencing real difficulty. Many have lost jobs and homes, and have very grave concerns about their futures. I also have experienced some turbulence in the last year as we have faced many of those same challenges. You know that saying, "Tough times never last. Tough people do." I can say from experience that it is true. It all depends on your perspective.



It is important to anchor your thoughts, and to decide the outcome in advance. Psalm 34: 19 "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." At the very outset of trouble, it is important to determine that you will not cower in fear, but you will come out of trouble. Verse 4 of the same chapter says "I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." That is the point I am trying to make. It is not the actual circumstance that has so many paralyzed; it is the fear of the circumstance. They see others lose their jobs, and immediately are convinced that they will be next. Did you ever notice that whenever an angel of the Lord, or the Lord himself appeared to someone in the Bible he said "Fear Not!"? Whenever the children of Israel came against an enemy, often a larger and more heavily armed enemy, the Lord would say, "Fear Not!"



Fear will take you where you don't want to go. It will open the very doors you don't want opened. It will close the door to help. And, it will shut down your creativity and blind you to new possibilities and opportunities. We cannot give any place to fear.

A Dazzling Climb

Spring faded into summer, and then fall, and now I find myself in the middle of winter. It has been a long time since I have written. I had planned to write daily. Almost without realizing it my life took over, I found the road a little steeper, and the elements a bit more of a nuisance. I found that I had allowed the strenuous climb to distract me from the priorities I had set. I wanted an outlet to crystallize my thoughts, to find the insights that are so often hidden below the surface. I wanted to open up to my friends and maybe offer a little encouragement and advice along the way. I would still like to do that. We can enjoy the scenery together, find the roads less traveled, and share some valid insights. I have found that even if the road becomes more challenging, the scenery can still be extraordinarily beautiful. The higher the altitude, the farther you can see. And if you choose to seek God's help and direction; He has a map. So, let's try this again, shall we?

Honeysuckle Moments

Living here in the Ozarks, I see beautiful scenery nearly every day. The rolling hills, springs, bluffs, waterfalls, trees, lakes and meadows all offer amazing vistas. A drive to town can be a glorious experience, as at the top of the next hill or around the next curve a delightful view is waiting to awake my senses. Springtime in the Ozarks is a visual feast. Red bud, Magnolia, Dogwood, Forsythia, Lilac, and numerous other flowering species are all bursting out of their winter sleep to reveal Spring's majesty. Birds are returning to build their nests, offering me a treat as I drink my morning tea. Even at night there are interesting things to behold. A deer coming to the bubbling brook for a drink. The red fox scurrying across the road on his nightly foray for a snack. I endeavor to make note of these marvels and to be thankful for the landscape around me.

However; sometimes I don't see the tapestry laid out before me. I am too busy rushing around, depositing children at this appointment or that. I am too distracted to see the abundance all about me. My mind is focused on my to do lists and the deadlines and appointments on my schedule. I am a robot on auto-pilot methodically completing my tasks. The beauty around me is obscured by the stress that I feel as I am pressed to meet every one's expectations. Much of the pressure is internal as my lists usually contain more that I can accomplish in a day.

It was a day such as this last week as I was dashing hither and yon. I had dropped my daughter off at work had run some other errands and was heading back home. I had just crossed the bridge over the lake. I hadn't noticed the scenery. The boats, the fisherman, the gulls were all there, I am sure they were, they always are. I had not noticed the pattern of the waves or the fountains and fire at the Landing. I had noticed and been annoyed by the traffic. I was numbly driving along. I wasn't conscious of any real thought.


I was just trying to get home. Trying to get to a place where I could rest. I got to the stoplight on my side of the bridge. Waiting, waiting. Turn green already. Okay, now let's go. Go! I said. I turned the corner and started up the hill, I was now back in my distracted fog. Not noticing the beauty of the vine and wildflower bedecked bluff beside me, not noticing the lake on the other side of me. Just driving. Then it happened. A sweet smell met my nose. It was light and faint and then stronger. Honeysuckle! Mmmm! I love the smell of Honeysuckle.

The light, sweet smell of Honeysuckle. It isn't jarring or harsh, it doesn't shake you. It just wafts through the air and tickles your olfactory nerves. It says "Hello, I'm here." I was arrested by this unassuming fragrance. I wanted to stop, to find some, to pluck it, and take it with me. I scanned the bluff beside me, there it was. In full bloom, an amazing quantity. Wow!

I had to keep driving. No where to pull off. But, everything had changed. I was no longer numbly driving along. I was no longer in a sub- irritated, get- it- done and get- it- over- with mindset. I was suddenly free. My thoughts were lifted. I was now cognisant of the beauty around me. I now saw the bluff, the lake, the fountains on the other side. I now saw everything in a new light. This wasn't just another ordinary day.


This experience took me to an even deeper revelation. Not just of smells and sights; but of the condition of my heart. Here I was rushing around, numbly trying to complete my obligations, and not only was I not involved with my surroundings, but I was not involved with my heart. I was in a disconnected, distracted, and unconscious state. I was not listening for cues or instructions from the Lord who shares this house I live in. I was in a chaotic, yet mindless state.


As the Honeysuckle caressed my senses, I was aware of another Presence. This Presence too, was light and sweet, not jarring and demanding. He spoke to me in gentle tones. "I'm here." "I can help." "I am available." "I would like to spend some time with you." These subtle reminders brought home to me what we forfeit when we don't look to Him continually for strength, for guidance, and for fellowship.

Paul's admonition to the Thessalonians to "Pray without ceasing" included more that the occasional ardent prayer session. He was speaking of the practice of opening your heart to God on a moment by moment basis. Allowing Him access to your inner-workings and decision making processes. He desires fellowship, communication, and communion with us all the time. Just think how much less stress we would experience, and how much more success in our endeavors if we took the time to get His input and wisdom.

Wishing you Honeysuckle moments of your own!
Shauna Bagenstos