“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
― Francis of Assisi
(the unruly bushes covering poor St Francis / Julie Cook / 2017)
I am the keeper of the shrubbery.
Add to that, I’m really too old for shrubbery.
Meaning I plant it…I prune it, I sheer it, I chop it…
and somedays, I’d just like to burn it to the ground.
Think 5 acres that need tending to….as I’m knocking on the door of 60.
Usually I do a complete maintenance overhaul of the yard each spring…
But this past spring saw me serving vigil with Dad…
Then following his death it was a matter of sorrow and picking up the pieces.
There wasn’t much energy for bushes.
I’m still picking up the pieces, still dealing with his dealings…and some days,
I just can’t do much but still just be sad…
Throw in losing Aunt Maaaathaa in July and well…the yard…
well it went to the wayside….to the way way way side….
kind of like my get up and go.
Too much sadness has a way of stealing that get up and go.
I usually trim the shrubbery twice a year…first in the spring—
then I like to tidy up things come fall, readying everything for the winter.
Think Martha Stewart sans all the helpers….
In order to put out some fresh pinestraw, the bushes need to be trimmed.
Did I mention those two pesky blown out discs from last year…
well, they’re still blown and they make getting up and going none too easy.
And oh, and did I mention another hurricane is coming?
The fresh pinestraw is to be delivered mid week, the hurricane is coming Sunday and Monday… a two day event of winds and rain, rain and rain…of which the rain
is most needed this time of year.
All of which meant today was the day in which the trimming and cutting
had to get done…
otherwise the bushes would take over the house and no amount of fresh pinestraw
could hide that little fact.
You know it’s bad when St Francis has been consumed by the bushes.
Throw in one electric hedger….
and St Francis is now free…..
Which reminds me, the feast day of St Francis was Wednesday, Oct 4th.
Most folks, those of the faith as well as those not, think kindly of Francis.
He loved the animals don’t you know.
And who doesn’t like someone who loves the animals?
Yet there was much more to Francis than a love of animals.
I’ve written about Francis before.
And since I’m now past exhausted and very sore from my pruning and freeing Francis
from the bushes, I’ll keep this short and sweet….
Francis wasn’t always about loving animals.
No, Francis wasn’t always the peaceful loving monk with the funky haircut
(tonsure) that we know and love today…
Rather Francis was all about loving the world.
He was a spoiled rich kid who loved to party.
He was what we might call a bit of a ’rounder’…
meaning a wild young man given to a wanton life of drinking too much,
chasing women too much and working way too little.
Sounds very familiar…much like a modern day millennial….
Yet Francis found this sort of life of his…lacking.
As in empty.
Despite being very popular, a hearty partier and a well dressed dandy,
Francis felt less than.
There was a heaviness to his being…one he just couldn’t understand.
An emptiness that no amount of parties, or money or friends could fill.
And then God literally called his name….
Isn’t that great…???!!!
That God can see into the wantoness of the worldly something actually redeeming…???!!
Something more than and something He wants!!!
Meaning…there is truly hope for us all!!!
“I have been all things unholy.
If God can work through me,
He can work through anyone.”
Francis of Assisi
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.”
Isaiah 44:22
cookiecrumbstoliveby 
There is indeed hope for all of us. Many years ago, when we were trying to sell a house after purchasing another, I was told to bury a statue of
St. Francis in the backyard and we would surely sell that house. It took a whole year for St. Francis to come through. Maybe I shouldn’t have buried him.
I think that’s suppose to be St Joseph— we buried a statue of st Joseph and our house sold within weeks— obviously St Francis is in no hurry 🤣
Well that explains everything.
😂🤣😜
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thank you thank you GW 🐛🐛🦋🦋
😁😁 My pleasure Cookie 😍
If I could hit the little star twice I would! A simply beautiful post!
Thank you Edward—😇
ah, the ‘doing’ always ‘doing’ ………..I’ve given it up!! And the wonder is it still gets done. How is that? I investigated a bit. I asked who is it that would be the ‘doer’ and slowly…..painfully slowly, realised that ‘me-the-doer’ is no more than an arrogant conception that was ruining my days.. making me feel sad and useless. So I said ok Lord have it your way! So I found that I had never been busier doing nothing whilst all seemed to get done. He seemed to say “Who are you to decide what to do??? Its my life!!!”
hmmmm says me ” I wonder how small I can grow”
What a lovely post and a nice bit of new information (for me anyway) on St Francis.
Thanks Tricia—here’s a link to a post I wrote a couple of years back—I’ve written several about his life—his life is really an amazing story—https://cookiecrumbstoliveby.wordpress.com/2013/10/06/do-the-impossible/
I just read it ands enjoyed that one too Julie. I like how you tied in what St. Francis must have been struggling with through God’s initial call with our own journeys. It’s different for all of us yet somehow all the same.
And a constant journey and struggle it is!!!
Yes, my doing is getting harder and harder as is my standing up straight these days, but sitting and doing nothing I still can’t do. I pray you do get some much needed rain and that the hurricane only brings the rain but does not damage limb or property. Did you tell me that your son and his wife are living in your Dad’s house? And when exactly is their baby due? Love and hugs, N 🙂 ❤
They are living in dad’s—which is still upside down—and the estate is still upside down—and the baby is due Feb 15th—which I pray won’t be upside down 🙂
This is a most consoling post. When we look back on people like St. Francis and throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, we can know that God is in all things and that all will be well. No matter how chaotic the world appears, God is in the midst. Blessings.
Thank you Lynda—where have you been???
Busy with schooling no doubt 🙂
School is part of it but I’m also busy with some other ministry assignments and with Canadian Thanksgiving. Every day brings its challenges and blessings but I try to keep my eyes on Jesus. Blessings to you on Columbus Day!
Yes happy Thanksgiving Day a la Canada!!
I suspect a day of feasting and fellowshipping and enjoying!
I would be nice if our Thanksgiving were now as well—affording a good separation from all things “Christmas”—as our Thanksgiving is just a lead in to holiday madness—as we miss the true meaning behind what such a day was originally intended….
Happy Day Lynda!!!