Bears Have Arrived

Picking blackberries this year, has not been as enjoyable as in past years.  It was amazing seeing the branches bowed with hundreds of berries ripening.  It was then just a bit disconcerting to hear that a mama bear with her two cubs had been photographed about a mile from here, eating berries.  I was truly hoping it was just a rumor.

To make matters even a bit more disheartening, when I saw the bushes loaded with dark berries one evening and went to pick them the next day, many were already gone.  It makes picking berries just a little less relaxing.  I guess, the chances of meeting up with a bear in the afternoon are not great, but it's enough to make me very aware of twigs snapping and taking note of any odor in the breeze.  To make matters even a bit more adventurous, the local news featured a video of a young black bear in town running across mainstreet.  I'm guessing if they are showing up in town, they've made themselves to home, here in the timber.

The blessing of honey bees likely means there's a hive nearby, which also means bears are likely nearby as well.  I am thankful that bears do have an odor about them, but I'm not sure how close one would be by the time I smelled it and if I could move fast enough once I did.  It's probably time I did a bit more practicing with my slingshot.  Since our Heavenly Father is no respecter of persons, I've determined following the example set by David seems wise.  He was, after all, called a man after Yah's own heart.  I only have two problems now to overcome.  One, I'm not a young vibrant shepherd boy that moves quickly and Two, the truth of that fact leaves a slightly lingering fear.  I don't mind sharing blackberries with the local wildlife, but I just don't want to find myself picking at the same time.

In the Ordinary

A couple of months ago, I got into fight or flight mode and was just ready to "do everything!"  I wanted to go through every door I thought was out there and even "busted my knuckles" on a few brick walls that I wanted to be doors . . . The vision in January rattled me.  The division and discord about the year of shemitah is disconcerting.  The latest movie trailer "San Andreas" about a fault line dividing the country and collapsing cities reminded me of vision I was shown back in 2003.  Then came the reminder of two visions I've had in years past in January, as well as confirmation the shaking that is coming.  Just as I was working on the article about the recent vision, another individual posted a very confirming word.  What's been so odd about this "fight or flight" is the absence of fear.  It's simply a matter of urgency and so many are so unprepared.

I'm not talking about preparing "bug out bags" and buying ammunition.  We are told in Matthew, there'll be no going back for anything.  I don't know, as the end of days continue to unfold, perhaps everyone will be wearing backpacks filled with supplies.  At the present time, I'm not planning to do that.  I can't imagine that Abba would have me preparing a place of refuge, only to then prepare to be on the run.  I don't have the whole picture, though, so I pray I pay attention.  This fight or flight has been more a matter of getting information to folks who might listen, telling them to abandon their system dependency.  I've been telling folks to get out of the cities for awhile now, but for the most part, they indicate they know better, so I've sounded that warning to some, but I'm sure there are some who will listen.

I want to help young people avoid college debt.  I'm a firm believer in reading and learning, but I am avidly against debt and programming!  I want to help everyone get out of mainstream medicine, but most folks take a great deal of comfort in their procedures and prescriptions.  I want to help folks eat healthy and keep kosher, but excuses are much easier than gardening.  To make all my fluttering worse, I fell and then every effort became work, too much work to take on more.  Even my computer work became difficult at times due to the headache and blurred vision.  Praise YHWH, as I'm writing this, I am aware that this is the first day since the accident that my vision has not blurred as the day has progressed!  HalleluYah!  It's also the first day since surrendering my "searching for busy-ness" to YHWH.

He gave me the talents I have, as well as the intelligence to recognize the value of ordinary.  What I do may never be regarded by mainstream religion and may be received by very few, but it's what He's entrusted to me to accomplish.  I'll be working the land, running my alternative health business, and sharing His truth with anyone who asks the reason for the hope in me, and I'll go right on hitting that "publish" button on my screen.  I don't need to make doors where there are none, and I don't need to go looking for doors . . . I need to take care of the several full time responsibilities I already have to actually be ready.  In a world of specialists, ordinary has become in short supply.