Last week I wrote about “going walkabout” and taking a road trip to the desert Southwest of the US. It was a time to decompress and spend some time alone with God. It was a wonderful trip that included seeing some family I love. I’m convinced many of us could use a break from the cares of this world. A change of scenery, a change of pace, even for a little while, was just what I needed.
After a beautiful trip through the mountains one day, I got a motel room in Holcomb, AZ for a night. Here is what the view from my motel looked like the next morning. It looked bleak. And it was hot, very hot!
But, loving the desert, I went for a little hike anyway. Within a few steps I scared up a jackrabbit. I didn’t see any rattlesnakes, but I ran across some bugs. I even saw a few flowers.
But the best part of the hike were the tumbleweeds! Tumbleweeds have been the focus of several Western songs and set the scene in Western movies and shows. Tumbleweeds are used for decorations in bars and restaurants, and more recently even at events like weddings.
But, loving the desert, I went for a little hike anyway. Within a few steps I scared up a jackrabbit. I didn’t see any rattlesnakes, but I ran across some bugs. I even saw a few flowers.
But the best part of the hike were the tumbleweeds! Tumbleweeds have been the focus of several Western songs and set the scene in Western movies and shows. Tumbleweeds are used for decorations in bars and restaurants, and more recently even at events like weddings.
I decided I wanted to take this tumbleweed home as a souvenir from my trip to the desert.
I sent this picture to Cathy, my wife, and my brother, Joe, who also likes the Southwest. They each sent back the same response. “Tumbleweeds are an invasive species.”
Tumbleweeds are the remains of several different kinds of plants that break off from their stems after they die and dry up. The plant reproduces by dropping seeds as the tumbleweed blows about the desert. These plants are now invading areas other than the desert and native plants are being threatened.
Reluctantly, I took my tumbleweed out of my trunk and released it back to the desert. As I drove back home to Indiana, I missed my tumbleweed. But Cathy and Joe were right for me to let it go. I don’t really need a tumbleweed in my office when I have boxes of mementos from the past I still haven’t unpacked. My goal now is to simplify my life.
Taking the road trip to decompress was wonderful. But on the trip back, God was telling me there were things beside the tumbleweed I could let go now, especially if I wanted to lead a simpler life. There were some past burdens, hurts, and even past successes that it was time to give to Him. These are harder to lay down than a tumbleweed, but even more freeing.
Are there things in your life, even good things, that it might be time to let go of to make your life simpler and freer? Maybe some time alone with God might help you decide what they are. Maybe it’s time, with His help, to let go of them.
I sent this picture to Cathy, my wife, and my brother, Joe, who also likes the Southwest. They each sent back the same response. “Tumbleweeds are an invasive species.”
Tumbleweeds are the remains of several different kinds of plants that break off from their stems after they die and dry up. The plant reproduces by dropping seeds as the tumbleweed blows about the desert. These plants are now invading areas other than the desert and native plants are being threatened.
Reluctantly, I took my tumbleweed out of my trunk and released it back to the desert. As I drove back home to Indiana, I missed my tumbleweed. But Cathy and Joe were right for me to let it go. I don’t really need a tumbleweed in my office when I have boxes of mementos from the past I still haven’t unpacked. My goal now is to simplify my life.
Taking the road trip to decompress was wonderful. But on the trip back, God was telling me there were things beside the tumbleweed I could let go now, especially if I wanted to lead a simpler life. There were some past burdens, hurts, and even past successes that it was time to give to Him. These are harder to lay down than a tumbleweed, but even more freeing.
Are there things in your life, even good things, that it might be time to let go of to make your life simpler and freer? Maybe some time alone with God might help you decide what they are. Maybe it’s time, with His help, to let go of them.
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