Trampled – Devotion 316

I have tried planting flowers around the back patio.  There are a few unexpected successes, but for the most part, it is failure.  I do much better by putting them in pots around the patio and enjoying them there.  There isn’t anything wrong with the soil, it is just fine.  They get the same amount of sunshine as the potted plants.  They are not overtaken by weeds.  Their nemesis to survival is Leo’s paws.  He doesn’t seem to notice there are plants coming out of the ground that he should not trample. I have planted them out of his normal path so he would not run over them in his daily hunt.  The problem only happens when he is chasing bugs.  He doesn’t seem to notice anything in his way when he does that.  He will topple tables, jump up on the side of the house, leap over the pots, and of course, walk right over the plants in the pursuit.  He doesn’t mean to run into and over everything.  He is focused on the goal and the goal only.  He misses what is around because he has something to accomplish.  In his view, nothing is really in his way.  

I wonder how many beautiful things we miss in our pursuit of a goal.  I wonder how many ideas we trample as we seek what we think we want.  Could it be that, like Leo, we are so focused on what we think is necessary that we miss the things which are tender and growing around us?  Could we miss the joys and the excitement in our quest for something bigger and better?  Might we find life has so much more to offer when we pay attention to the flowers rather than running them over? 

I could certainly benefit from noticing the everyday joys growing around me.  To experience God’s majesty in our daily quest may change our whole perspective for the day.  The thing we are chasing may not even be what we need.  What are you trampling in order to reach something else?

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 19:1

The heavens are telling the glory of God;
    and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery