“Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer.” – Proverbs 30:25 NIV
The harvest is coming to an end in my garden. The cucumbers are now jars of pickles. The cabbage is sauerkraut. The plums are jam. The corn, tomatoes, and
Swiss chard are tucked away in the freezer. There is a simple satisfaction – and dare I say beauty – to looking over the summer harvest all neatly stored for winter eating.
Proverbs 30 says there are four small things that are exceptionally wise, and the first on the list is the ant that stores away food in the good times of summer in order to eat well throughout the winter. Proverbs 6:6 CEB says we should “Go to the ant…observe its ways and grow wise.”
When was the last time you observed some little part of God’s creation to learn its lessons and notice its beauty? We too often focus instead on the ugly things of life: the violence, the accidents, the wars, and the disasters. How might our lives improve if we looked at the beautiful things instead?
We will do just that in our upcoming sermon series this Fall. Beginning September 7, we will look at “Beautiful Things.” Noticing the beauty all around us in creation, in other people, and in our God is a perfect way to prepare for the coming winter.
Welcome to Fall,
Pastor Mark