Picnic

I apologize.  It really is the word that spoke to me this morning.  It’s not a positive word on the surface, although most picnics that we’ve experienced hold some great memories and fun.  But to connect picnics and Jesus?  I think this may be my biggest challenge.  I do recall a memory of one of my favorite picnics, which was my dad’s 80^th birthday celebration.  His birthday wish was to go up in a glider.  He had experienced that once before, but it was during his serving in World War II; and he wanted to have a positive experience this time.  I volunteered to go up with him, along with the pilot, of course.  Many of our family members gathered in the park to watch us as the glider took off.  When we landed from our amazing experience, we all furthered my dad’s birthday celebration in the park for a family picnic – my husband, my mom, siblings, cousins, and other family members.  It was one long rustic picnic table with lots of reminiscing, passing around both stories and lots of food, (of course) along with lots of laughter too!  We were out enjoying nature and breathing the fresh air.  Some of the younger cousins were climbing trees.  Experiencing the beauty of the earth below and the sky and nature all around us during our flight made me appreciate all that God made for you and me to enjoy.  The answer, when I looked it up, as to why we celebrate picnics was to “gather friends and family and get outside.”  That was a huge part of Jesus’ ministry, right?  He went to the people, preaching, mostly outdoors.  He was known for gathering everyone together and there, many times, was a meal involved.  It might not have been hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill, but I bet those times were filled not only with spiritual enlightenment and prayer, but also plenty of stories, gatherings of friends and family, and laughter.  So, let’s celebrate summer and create some positive memories with family and friends.  Get outside, enjoy all the beauty that our One God has created for us.  Most of all, remember to thank him for all our blessings of creation and how lucky we are to have those around us that we love.

“Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the tress of the forest sing for joy.”  Psalm 96:11-12