Saturday Thankfulness & Benches

 --Rambling post warning--

I made a commitment to myself at the beginning of this week to try to post here daily. Today I'm supposed to be finishing my sermon for tomorrow, but writing here seems like a better place to start. So here I am. But I don't have any specific inspiration for today, except that I am thankful that I am able to do this again. It's been a long dry season, during which writing was very hard.  For most of my life writing has been easy, but the past year has made me forget what that was like.

Half the fun of doing these blogs is choosing the pictures, usually from Unsplash.  Today's pic becomes an inspiration, which is something Pat Clark encouraged and that I never did much with. Maybe I'll try picking the picture first more often in the future.

Anyway, today's picture reminds me of the spot near where my dad lives in Cambria. It's called Lampton something, and it's a beach access point with steps down a cliff and a bench at the top to sit and look at the ocean. I've had lots of great conversations sitting on that bench. I think we need more benches. I would love to put several on our church property, and in the front yard of my house.  Benches are an invitation to rest and stay awhile. Benches are good places for conversations - with God or with a friend.

When I was a kid, there was a slogan going around that said "build bridges, not walls." (Or something like that.)  Maybe I'll start my own slogan campaign. "Build more benches."  Oh, and while we're at it, plant trees next to the benches.

Yep. That's my big idea for today. Trees and benches.

Thanks, God.

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Photo by Crispin Jones on Unsplash