A View from the Porch in the West

Welcome friends and family!! What a perfect gathering spot, the FRONT PORCH!! If you were sitting here with me, right now, in the cool(er) part of the evening, I would offer you something cold to drink, and we would together take in the Sights and Sounds of this part of the Country, and share our thoughts and hearts desires and dreams.





The "Front Porch", just speaking of that location , the sound of it bringing to mind a special place , so relaxing, SO INVITING, so much like days gone by. The FRONT PORCH, a haven and refuge from the demands of life. A connecting and contemplative spot to sip a beverage and to share and be restored. The Porch is the FIRST THING YOU SEE upon entering a home, it greets the visitor, and it whets the appetite for what is contained within.





It seems that though most neighbors in my charming ( thats another word for OLD) rural area, have porches, and MOST ALL are decorated with plants, and seasonal decor...some like mine, have even created ATTRACTION POWER, by adding benches or chairs on which to rest and share a relaxing moment ALONE, or with someone dear. It's that spot where people STOP for just a brief time and reflect on life.

But, the unfortunate truth of the matter is that, MOST all of us are too busy to enjoy that resting, inviting spot to stop and ponder. We are, it seems, either heading out ( and running about 10 minutes late, while singing the WHITE RABBIT SONG from Alice and Wonderland........ " I'm LATE, I'm Late..for a VERY important date, no time to say hello, goodbye...I'M LATE!! " ) or we're returning FROM a job or day that has sapped all our physical, mental and emotional energies. I watch daily ( as my kitchen window looks out over the porch and onto the street in front of my home, as my neighbors pass by, having to slow directly in front of my darling porch, because of a speed reduction burm ). A few neighbors glance over, checking out my latest seasonal decor, ( which is a BIG DEAL when you are a Decorator by vocation) they smile , and IF I should be out in front, they stop a moment and converse, BUT MOST OFTEN, even in my sleepy little community, they are pushing the button to raise their garage doors, then they scoot inside and while they are STILL ENTERING the garage, I see the door closing behind them. Could that be similar to a "DO NOT DISTURB SIGN" ??





I generally have a lovely view of Lush Trees and Hills surrounding me, not to mention the AMTRAK that I can both view and hear several times a day, that passes by on a high tressle, just about a mile away. The conductor must live somewhere near this area, as whenever he passes through he gives the special toot of the horn that makes one smile........... you know the one, that accompanies the old " shave and a haircut, six bits!!" ......WELL... maybe some of you are too young to know that one!!?? Anyway, it always makes me smile, as I wonder just WHERE that train is heading and whom it carries!





Sadly, the VIEW FROM MY FRONT PORCH has been obscured for the past 3 weeks so so, because of an oppressive SMOKE layer, hovering over us, and caused from the numerous WILD FIRES throughout our state. Though my own property has remained safe, many homes and lands have been threatened, and even lost to the devastation of these wild fires. ( WHAT DO YOU TAKE, when asked to evacuate your home? ) As we know, when something devastating of this nature occures, it affects us ALL in one way or another. My beautiful VIEW FROM THE PORCH in this pristine area has been clouded over, reminding us of the loss and distruction this fire has left in its path, and the smoke hanging in the air affects not only vision but also makes the AIR heavy, and breathing a challenge. HMMMMM...sounds a bit like my life! EVER FELT LIKE there was this HEAVY DARK SMOKE hanging all around you and you can't see where you going, and that the pain you feel from it make it almost impossible to catch your breath? Many whom I care for have experienced this feeling all to recently. Life has SUDDENLY and UNEXPECTEDLY become beyond our control, and has left us with that HEAVY SMOKE SCREEN that both PRESSES and DEPRESSES Our Spirits!! Me too!!





It seems that when adversity, loss, and sadness come upon us , there is also a FOG that accompanies this condition. The past year has especially been challenging for me, but mainly, because my Husband Gary has Chronic Progressive MULTIPLE SCHLEROSIS and is in a daily deteriorative state of this incidious disease. He is advanced to a stage that I am not able to care for him, in our home, and he is in a Care Facility located ( due to his care needs, as a disabled veteran) 2 hours from me. This is a challenging LONG-DISTANCE relationship/care to oversee and maintain, and somedays the loneliness, the pain and frustration we both share is like that HEAVY OPPRESSIVE SMOKE. It obscures my vision of the future, and with the weight of the financial strain and relational challenges makes it hard to breathe. When this SMOKE SCREEN obscures our future, OUR HOPE is dampened and discouragement lays on our hearts and we can't seem to find our way or make sence of our life.





It's during these times in my walk of life, ( and I've had years of experience with pain and suffering) that I no longer ask "WHY ME, GOD?" BUT instead, I now say, " OK, WHAT NEXT, GOD???" AND IN HIS FAITHFULNESS, he clears the SMOKE away, with the gentle breeze of HIS SPIRIT and He reveals the hope and future that only FAITH can produce. ( HEB 11:1 has been my comfort here) " Faith is BEING SURE of of what we HOPE for, and CERTAIN of that which we can not SEE!!" One of my front porch neighbor recently said..." I am amazed at your resilience though so many issues that might have caused others to fade....IT MUST BE YOUR FAITH!!"





I SURE HOPE SO!!!





When your VIEW is darkened and dimmed because of the Heaviness of your Heart, maybe its time for a "FAITH LIFT". It's the BEST ( inner) Beauty treatment available. Take a few moments of quiet time, away from the hustle bustle of appointments, commitiments and obligations and join me on the Porch, where " two are always better than one" in handling matters of the heart. BESIDES, I'd like to introduce to My Daddy who always stops by, and He is a master at "fixing things " that are broken. He is very wise and kind, has lots of good advice that he has passed along. Why, just the other day He gave me a special LIGHT to illuminate the dark and dreary day, and its AMAZING the view you get, when you use the right LIGHT FILTER!! You can read about it in the BOOK of Life Instruction, in Psalm 119:105. Let that SINK deep within your heart and rest in his direction during these times.

Those who have driven through dense FOG or SMOKE know that when you shine your "HEAD" LIGHTS, the light only bounces back and further blocks your vision!! Maybe it's time to instead, turn on our "HEART-LIGHTS", in these dreary times where our vision is clouded. My Daddy tells me that the HEART is what matters most. Between the gentle winds, and the soft glow of my upwardly committed heart, the sky is finally becoming clear once again. This too shall pass, and the view from the FRONT PORCH will again reveal many wonderful scenes to bask in. Maybe, we just might catch a glimpse of something we have never seen before.





So, dear one, I invited you to come sit a spell when you are weary, heavy laden, frustrated or your vision is impaired due to the SMOKE that seems to keep you lost. You will be delighted and amazed to see how those clouds seem to roll away as we laugh and talk and pray together. Even LONG DISTANCE Porch Friends can close the gap of miles, when we take time to sit and commune. It's kinda like a TIME/SPACE CONTINUM" thingy" that I don't fully understand, but KNOW IT WORKS!!





AND, if I don't see you on the PORCH, in the near future, I pray that I will see you " AT THE HOUSE!!"

Until next time!! Your "Front Porch Sister/ Adopted Mom and Friend, Sharon