Choices and Essentials

Saturday I chose to ride, I know that’s a shocker right?! It was one of those days where honestly I could have just ridden all day if it was possible. The sun was shining, the winds were calm when I headed out and the sky was amazingly clear and blue. A picture perfect day that wasn’t too hot or too cold. The scenery was absolutely stunning with many different colored azaleas in full bloom, lush green fields, and crystal clear creeks and rivers. I was amused by a lone turkey (hen) that came running out of the tall grass on the side of the road and was running as fast as her legs would carry her across the road in front of me. On my evening ride I saw 2 more turkeys out in a field that was full of tall grass and I could just see their heads lurking over the top of the grass as they were looking my way, probably trying to figure out what the noise was that was disrupting them.

I again found a new country road I’d never been on which eventually in turn took me right back to another road I’d just been on but that was ok too. No matter how many times I ride a particular road, I always seem to notice something new. I saw some bicyclists also enjoying the pretty day and people out working in their gardens and flower beds. As I saw people out working in their yards it made me think of some comments and things I’ve read recently in these crazy days we’re finding ourselves in. The subject I’m referring to is the “essentials” term.

How does someone decide what’s essential? This, like everything in life, is up to interpretation based on each individual’s own preferences and needs. What I consider essential to me may not be essential to you. Riding is essential to me for my mental and spiritual well being and therefore also for my physical well being. There are obvious things we all need that are essential; food, clothing, a roof over our head and as we’ve learned recently definitely toilet paper. 🤣

Purchasing plants, mulch, pine needles and multiple other items may not be essential to some just like bird food, paint, yard tools, and lumber may not be. Stop for a minute and think about it though, what is your outlet when you’re worried, stressed, or maybe just bored? Maybe the person buying those “non-essentials” listed above works in their yard, feeds birds, or works on home improvements to keep their mind and hands busy to deal with their anxiety or depression or to keep from falling back into an addiction they’ve previously conquered. We don’t know the battles anyone else may be facing during this pandemic or any other time either. What if instead of judging what others are and aren’t doing we instead pray for them?

I enjoy working in my yard, mowing, digging in the dirt, and planting flowers and vegetables in addition to riding. Of course when I unknowingly get into stinging nettles that’s not a relaxing time but that’s another story. Again that’s part of who I am having been raised in the country and strongly encouraged to be outside from dawn to dusk. Hubby and I have recently discussed how much more self sufficient we each should be as well as our country should be. There was a time when families grew more of their own food and were more self reliant for the basic necessities and as a country we focused on buying from our neighbors and from within to support our country, not from other countries with cheaper labor and cheaper made products.

As I’ve been riding this past week I’ve been looking specifically for these types of things. Looking at others’ flower gardens, vegetable gardens and pens/fences for chickens, goats, turkeys, pigs, cows etc. If we decide to raise any of these, which we probably will in the near future, that means we’ll be buying supplies to make those fenced in areas and shelters. To us those supplies will be essential. Essential in order to provide for ourselves and not rely on others. It may not necessarily be cheaper to raise your own, but at least you know what it’s been fed and how it’s been handled and processed. Fresh may not always be cheaper but the peace of mind and satisfied feeling of providing for yourself is worth more than money.

I’m seeing more and more home gardens this year while I ride around the countryside. Are there more of them or am I just noticing them more? That I don’t know for sure, but it’s a very welcome and comforting sight.

I have my own thoughts on this whole coronavirus situation but I’m not going to go into all of that, you hear enough of that if you turn on the tv, radio, computer etc. What I do want to stress to you is if you haven’t found that outlet yet to release your anxiety, worry, fear and any other multitude of feelings you may be experiencing now is the perfect time to do it. Ask God to show you ways you can do it while the world is in “stay at home” mode. This situation we find ourselves in can be a turning point in our lives for the better.

Read that book, take that walk, go fishing or riding, start that new hobby or any other number of opportunities out there. Take time for you! This is the perfect time to do some soul searching and seeking to get that inner peace.

I have a daily devotional flip calendar and yesterday’s quote really spoke to me. It was a quote from Billy Graham that said, “Prayer is a two-way conversation with God.”

That is so true and what most of my rides consist of. I pray before I leave my driveway, then I try to listen for what He’s trying to teach me or wants me to share here. I’ve learned over the years, especially in the last 5 since I’ve been riding, that too often my prayers before were not a two way conversation. I was talking to Him, but I wasn’t listening carefully in return. He may not necessarily speak to us in an audible voice, but He does speak to us through songs, sermons, babies, other people, His creatures, storms, and so many other ways. We only have to seek and truly listen. That is essential and a choice we must each make for ourselves.

Jeremiah 29:11-13