The View from a Tractor

I took a break from reading "The Shack" to visit and have lunch with friends. It truly is a blessing to be able to have the time to relax into a visit, and before I left I was invited to tour the farm -- from the tractor's second seat. I've never been on a tractor before in my life, let alone ridden in one. It was an experience! I said that sabbatical time is an opportunity to do things I've never done before, and this was certainly one of those! It is an interesting adventure and the vantage point is certainly different, especially when driving along the side of a hill! I confess that I held on for dear life when we left the road, drove down into the ditch and up into the field. And then again when we moved up the side of a hill toward a pond. Actually, I never truly let go! Oh and George thinks it's important that I mention that the tractor is green and yellow -- which farmer types will identify readily as a particular make. Initials JD. My only regret - and a belated one at that, was that I didn't take my camera with me so I have no photo of this momentous ride!

I'm glad I went. I was happy to see all that there was to see and to absorb some of the information that was shared with me -- even though I didn't (couldn't!) retain it all. Sorry, George! It also gave me a better perspective on at least one of the work experiences of many of our farmers. I'm told that the driver's seat is much more comfortable than the jump seat -- I certainly hope so, and since George wasn't holding on, I believe it -- and also that you become more comfortable with the whole experience of up and down, and knowing what you can safely do when riding/driving one of these monsters. It certainly expanded my horizons -- in every sense of the word. Thanks, George!

After my visit I returned to reading and finished my encounter with The Shack. As I said previously, I do recommend it. As C.S. Lewis did before him, Wm. Paul Young shares his understanding (or, "literally" that of his friend Mack) of God, the nature of God, the Trinity, and our relationship with God, all in an easily readable book.

Today's reading: Isaiah 6:6-9:5