Tractors

We have found that our favorite possible-to-do vacation is to go to Redwood Campmeeting, a ten-day event orchestrated by our church. Simple tent camping is enhanced by uplifting music, inspiring speakers, and connecting with friends. In between the morning and evening meetings, we spend long, slow hours basking in warm sun or seeking the coolness of Redwood groves and the lazy Eel River which winds for miles through the hills and deep forests. I thought I'd do a lot of painting but found that I needed a break even from the things that bring me joy at home. But not a complete break! One late morning was wind-free and warm, perfect for a bit of paint play. Nothing big, nothing too thought-out, just play. About a mile from our camp was a small organic farm (like most farms in that area) and it's work-horses, the tractors, were also on vacation. They seemed almost tucked in among tall weeds and wild flowers. They were old, well used, and charming. But something else drew me to this subject, something illustrative. Sometimes the "soil" of my thinking, of my heart, can get pretty hard. It gets packed down with responsibility, with demands, distractions, exhaustion. A spiritually-renewing break acts like a tractor pulling a plow, breaking into the hardness, opening up and exposing rich soil, ready for new ideas, fresh thoughts, refreshed creativity. Maybe we should do this more often, or how about very often!