The Lincoln Trail

It was an early Spring morning. There was no frost on the pumpkins....that's the Fall. Remember? No...it was a bright, sunny Spring morning with the smell of Spring flowers in the air. The dogs were "hyper" with their new found freedom. The birds were aggravated with the invasion of people and animals. The moles were having breakfast while that damned Woodpecker sounded like a soon-to-be famous adolescent drummer. Yep...it was Spring.

And while I was working in the garden, my old friend approached. The Ol' Sage had a smile. He wasn't wearing his straw hat....the Spring sun could not do much damage yet. "Onions?", he asked. I explained there was a sale at the grocery store....the Onion sets were almost a gift. Without any space in the air, I kept talking. "It just struck me as amazing how things grow. A seed to a tree; a slice of potato to a bush; a little plant to bushels of tomatoes....it just seems amazing...no matter how easily folks might try to explain it". The Sage agreed, adding, he had known even greater miracles. When I asked about them, he readily blurted one out.

His favorite one was the log cabin. He told how he had looked for a country house for five years finding nothing he could afford. He had run ads in the paper for years to sell the house he owned in town. Nothing happened. Then, suddenly, after five years...a lady came to his door in town with cash...she wanted to buy the house. Days later, while driving in the country, he saw a for sale sign that lead him to the cabin along the Lincoln Trail. One of those fortunate happenings could be explained with "luck" but two major happenings within a short period of time must be more than just plain old luck. He could only explain this series of events as the work of a loving God.

It was "heavy stuff" in the midst of planting Onions on an early Spring morning. But his conversation reminded me of the many apparently fortunate events in my life. Two college degrees, great jobs, a country house. Blessing that just seemed to go on and on. And, speaking of on-and-on, there was a whine from the house. Karin stood by the door holding an empty cat food can while crying-out a plee for help. "Throw this can in the garbage!", she cried. Then I remembered another great blessing....my "honey". The Ol' Sage laughed as he heard those sweet sounds wafting amongst the budding Oaks.

The Sage resumed the topic adding, "...too often we try to explain the miracles of life away with scientific facts. Too often we fail to be grateful for the amazing work that goes on without our help or, sometimes, inspite of our help! There's always much to be grateful for."

Years ago, when the Sage walked with Abe down the The Lincoln Trail, he recalled how Abe recognized an existing power greater than he. As Abe put it, "Some called that power...God, while others used other names". The fact had been made...he recognized a powerful force at work in his life too. "Yes"....the Sage continued, "In the end, his life was ended suddenly". The Ol' Sage's face dropped and you could see the sadness. "But", he added, "who are we to judge what might have laid ahead for Abe if he had not been shot. Guess we have to trust that even the ending of Abe was within God's plan. Yes, the belief in God gives us grounds for frequent gratitude and a trust that we do not walk alone". "I like it", added the old man.

Well, as the Ol' Sage talked, I worked. And, soon, the Onions were planted. I thanked him for his conversation. It made the work time pass more quickly and it helped remind me of a more positive focus for my thoughts. I thought to myself, The Ol' Sage has used himself as an instrument of God's work....and, he wasn't even trying hard.