Another Williamsburg Wander

ANOTHER WILLIAMSBURG WANDER

      Last week, my husband and I spent a week in Williamsburg. We wandered many a pathway – with brick, dirt, gravel, crushed oyster shells and asphalt under our feet. In spite of occasional twinges in my knee, we enjoyed discovering interesting and beautiful things along our journey. I’d like to share some of those sights and use them to illustrate parts of God’s Word to remind us that He speaks to us through all the bits and pieces of our day. Let’s seek Joy in our Journey!

These beautiful feather-edged tulips show off their beauty in one of the colonial gardens. Jesus said, “Why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies (or tulips) of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these,” Matthew 6:28-29.

This sweet mockingbird perched on a colonial fence post reminds us of the verse just above the one about the tulips: “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they,” verse 26.  Hmm…I’m sensing a message here and it’s spelled out in verse 34, when Jesus says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow…”  Ah, don’t you love how God reminds us of His love and watch-care – if we’ll just stop and listen.

Speaking of listening – we heard a lot of baaa-ing around the colonial capitol. Fields of yellow flowers offered tasty food options for the many sheep – some with heavy wool ringlets like this lady, and others who have recently been shorn for the summer. There were lambs too. I  can’t see sheep without thinking of all the many verses pertaining to them. Here’s one that comes to mind:  "For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand," Psalm 95:7.

A series of paintings titled “Peaceable Kingdom,” by Edward Hicks, in the Abby Aldrich Folk Art Museum were quite interesting. Each depicted a child or several children with dangerous wild animals. Hicks was illustrating that wonderful section in Isaiah 11 when God tells there will be a time when “the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion...and a little child shall lead them.” A beautiful picture of the millennium after Jesus returns to earth.

       I love vine and tree tunnels and this long tunnel in the garden of the Governor’s Mansion was made even more special with the many paper stars hanging along its length. At night, the stars are lit and for an extra fee, you can ramble through the garden at night. I’m sure it’s quite lovely.  Stars are special to me. I love the sound of the Spanish word for star – Estrella (pronounced estraya).

     I also love that the stars sang praises to God when He created them – can you imagine? Listen to what God told Job about the day of creation: “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy,”38:7.

      Not only did the stars and angels sing for joy, but God actually blew the stars into space: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth,” Psalm 33:6.  

       So, you can see why I like stars so much, as the Psalmist said, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him?” Psalm 8:3.                        You just have to smile!! 

       I know this is not an item you’d usually take a picture of – a sharp hatchet or ax whose blade is embedded in a block of wood. We were in the wheelwright barn when I noticed the ax. As I often do, I thought God has a message in this ordinary item - in this case, the sharp blade of this ax. Here’s what God says in Ecclesiastes 10:10, “If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success.”    

       There’s probably more than one message in that, but I believe one of the things we’re being told is to stay sharp by staying close to the Lord. If we wisely let Him work through us, our burden will be lighter and we’ll be using His strength for His success.

I love this sweet picture of our daughter and granddaughter, who joined us for a couple of days. We are so thankful for family!  

Our world is so full of good things from God. What a joy it is to know that the Creator of the vast universe wants to communicate with little ole you and me – each and every day. Be on the lookout for His messages. They are all around us!