Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Stone by Stone

I regularly travel down the Zenith Road. I'm usually flying down it in my car in my quest to make it from my house to some event in Stafford on time. Let's face it: When I'm hurrying to get from Point A to Point B, I don't always pay attention. The scenery flies by my window, but it doesn't make much of an impression.

But, once in awhile, my pace is a little more sedate. Maybe I'm driving a grain truck to the Kanza Co-op's Zenith branch. It could be another trip to get fertilizer and haul it back to the field for Randy. On those days when I'm forced to slow down, I see more. If the windows are down in the truck or pickup, I hear the birds. I feel the breeze blowing my hair. I smell freshly cut hay. I truly see - with all my senses.

On one of those days, the big stone barn caught my attention. Now, I go by that barn several times a week. Much of the time, it doesn't even register. But as I thought about Lovely Branches Ministries' September theme, Foundations, the stone barn again came to mind.

I don't know exactly when the barn was built. But the house at the same farmstead was constructed in 1908 - more than 100 years ago. And while the barn isn't in pristine condition, it isn't falling to pieces like many of the wooden barns that dot the Kansas countryside.
Here's a wooden barn that's falling down . But can you find the two crosses? Pretty cool, too!
We can only imagine the work that went into building that stone barn. I'm sure it was backbreaking to lift each stone into place and meticulously cement them together. A firm foundation was essential - from the ground up and as each and every layer of stone was added.

What a metaphor for our faith! Where is our foundation? Is it built on solid ground? Is it carefully stacked so that it can withstand the storms of life that inevitably come our way?

I Peter 2: 4-5 says:  
The Living Stone and a Chosen People
As you come to him, the living Stone —rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (NIV)
I want my life to be built on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. Just like those long-ago workers worked tirelessly to place stone after stone, I need to build my house on the Solid Rock, not on shifting sand, like it says in that long ago Sunday School song, "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man" based on Luke 6: 48-49.

And I want Christ's light - the Light of the World - to shine through me - just as surely as a Kansas sunset is reflected in the windows of a sturdy old barn.

Check out what my friend, Suzanne, had to say about Foundations in her September blog at Heart and Home Matters. And, while you're there, visit Keva's blog, Hope in Jesus. She writes about comparing ourselves to others. (I know I can relate!) I'm currently reading the book that Edna talks about in Rooted and Grounded, Jennie Allen's Anything. Theresa has a simple, but sometimes difficult, message to Love One Another. And Dianne talks about finding Christ in the eye of the storm. Hope you'll take time to check them all out!

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I'm also linked today to Jennifer's Getting Down with Jesus and her weekly God-Bumps and God-Incidences. 
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Need to stack up some good recipes? Try these ...


Stack your plate with veggies, rice, garbanzo beans and lean beef in this tasty Farmer's Market Salad. 

Stack up some of these Butterfinger Blondies and your family's faces will light up. Guaranteed.

10 comments:

  1. It is great to have possibility to read blogs - by this I discover life in different parts of world. And, what is more amazing - everywhere I meet people, who have Jesus in their hearts! Greetings and blessings from Poland, Europe.

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    1. So glad to meet you, Zim, and for you to "stop by" our farm in Kansas! Blessings to you today and everyday!

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  2. How sweet that you've mentioned all your blog friends! I love it when I can share what my friends are doing. Oh..and the two cross photo? Super cool! :)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Mindy! At first, when I took the photo, I only saw the one cross. It was only after looking at the photos on the computer that I saw the second one! Bonus!

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  3. I love the two crosses in that photo! OH, how you SEE! So grateful for you; so glad you've shared your words and photos with us at Getting Down With Jesus.

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    1. Jennifer - Thanks, as always, for hosting God-Bumps and God-Incidences. I always love reading you - on Wednesdays and every other day you post! Thanks for always providing food for thought. Hugs and prayers for Lydia's surgery and for the tough questions. Our daughter had to have a similar surgery when she was about Lydia's age. Prayers for mama, too!

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  4. We were just made aware of your blog and especially enjoyed reading "Stone By Stone". My husband, Merryl Volker, was raised at that farmstead. His grandparents, Henry & Mamie Volker, built that stone barn in 1908. He says that if you go in through the west door and up the ladder that when you reach the top the date that the barn was built is painted in white paint on a rafter! He remembers being told that all of the cement stones were made on location.

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    1. Thanks for taking time to comment. I was told the house was built in 1908, but that person wasn't sure the barn was built the same year, though we figured it was near the same time. It certainly is a grand old barn! I am sure it was the source for many family stories and memories! Thanks again!

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  5. You are right and I wrote that wrong. House built in 1908 & barn in 1910!

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    1. Thanks for the update! I'm glad to get to know more about my "neighbor."

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