May Day! Today is first day of May, but this day is not the kind of mayday that screams across air traffic radios when something is amiss. The May Day I grew up observing was a celebration of spring and flowers.
As a young child, May 1 was spent harvesting wildflowers from the nearby field and carrying them to the neighbors. I would spend the morning drawing gray clay from the creek bank and fashioning it into lovely vessels. Then while the clay dried in the sunshine, I would dutifully pick the violets and clover and arrange them into simple bouquets. Should my flower gathering be completed before the clay hardened, I’d bask in the sunshine myself. Lying in the old horse pasture beside my trickling creek was always a joy as I would watch the clouds form into magical creatures on grand adventures. When all was ready, I’d fill the clay pots with water from the creek, add the blossoms, and head off to distribute my gifts.
The delivery was very secret agent type work. First it would be necessary to ascertain whether my target was home – an easy task based on cars in the driveways. Next, I would carefully choose which of my flowerpots were intended for which home. Quietly, I would sneak onto the front porch, carefully place my friendship offering where it could be seen, ring the doorbell… and run!
Oftentimes I would only be able to make it to a nearby bush to hide and watch as neighbor after neighbor stepped out to retrieve her award. Always my presence remained unnoticed (at least in my five-year-old mind), and the beautiful bequest was lovingly carried inside. I was certain it was positioned in a highly visible place of honor probably on the dining table. Once the coast was clear, I was off and running to the next home for the next delivery. May Day was a thrilling annual adventure!
On those happy spring days, I lacked nothing. I felt safe and loved, never threatened or afraid, for life was filled with goodness. Granted, I was never out of sight of my own home – probably never more than 100 yards from my mother – but something about the freedom of expressing my childlike joy just seemed right.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23, CEB) Oh, how brilliantly the psalmist captures childlike expressions of faith! Each time I read this particular psalm, I am back in the horse pasture, gathering flowers beside the little creek, and my soul is refreshed. “I will fear no evil, for you are with me… surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.” No wonder this is one of the most beloved passages in all of scripture!
The most poignant of statements for me is in verse five: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” I love the imagery of my Perfect Host lovingly positioning me in a highly visible place of honor at the Table. Even when I am pursued by the enemies of bad decisions or past actions, even when I think I am well hidden, I am never out of my Lord’s sight. I am guided along the right paths, I am comforted, and “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Yes, this is the best May Day ever!
Refreshed,
Pastor Beth
As a young child, May 1 was spent harvesting wildflowers from the nearby field and carrying them to the neighbors. I would spend the morning drawing gray clay from the creek bank and fashioning it into lovely vessels. Then while the clay dried in the sunshine, I would dutifully pick the violets and clover and arrange them into simple bouquets. Should my flower gathering be completed before the clay hardened, I’d bask in the sunshine myself. Lying in the old horse pasture beside my trickling creek was always a joy as I would watch the clouds form into magical creatures on grand adventures. When all was ready, I’d fill the clay pots with water from the creek, add the blossoms, and head off to distribute my gifts.
The delivery was very secret agent type work. First it would be necessary to ascertain whether my target was home – an easy task based on cars in the driveways. Next, I would carefully choose which of my flowerpots were intended for which home. Quietly, I would sneak onto the front porch, carefully place my friendship offering where it could be seen, ring the doorbell… and run!
Oftentimes I would only be able to make it to a nearby bush to hide and watch as neighbor after neighbor stepped out to retrieve her award. Always my presence remained unnoticed (at least in my five-year-old mind), and the beautiful bequest was lovingly carried inside. I was certain it was positioned in a highly visible place of honor probably on the dining table. Once the coast was clear, I was off and running to the next home for the next delivery. May Day was a thrilling annual adventure!
On those happy spring days, I lacked nothing. I felt safe and loved, never threatened or afraid, for life was filled with goodness. Granted, I was never out of sight of my own home – probably never more than 100 yards from my mother – but something about the freedom of expressing my childlike joy just seemed right.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23, CEB) Oh, how brilliantly the psalmist captures childlike expressions of faith! Each time I read this particular psalm, I am back in the horse pasture, gathering flowers beside the little creek, and my soul is refreshed. “I will fear no evil, for you are with me… surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.” No wonder this is one of the most beloved passages in all of scripture!
The most poignant of statements for me is in verse five: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” I love the imagery of my Perfect Host lovingly positioning me in a highly visible place of honor at the Table. Even when I am pursued by the enemies of bad decisions or past actions, even when I think I am well hidden, I am never out of my Lord’s sight. I am guided along the right paths, I am comforted, and “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Yes, this is the best May Day ever!
Refreshed,
Pastor Beth
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